NCP gearing up for 2018 Assembly polls

Says the Naga people should know the content of the Framework Agreement

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 22  

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today called for making public the content of the Framework Agreement entered between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). Narendra Verma, NCP National Secretary-cum-spokesperson also in-charge of the North-East addressing a press conference here today in Dimapur, while holding that the Agreement’s content be made public, said that the people deserve and should know what it signifies. He added, “The NCP is of the opinion that the talks also include the other Naga (political) groups.”  

Verma though did not dwell much on the NCP’s stand on the Agreement and the Indo-Naga talks, rather focussing more on the party’s election agenda and prospects in Nagaland.   According to him, the purpose of the visit has been to assess the organisational set up of the NCP Nagaland unit, which is helmed by Vanthungo Odyuo as the convenor and gearing up for the polls.  

On the party’s prospects, he recalled the 2013 elections when the NCP won four seats after contesting in 15. “It is too early to comment on the number of seats to be contested. Our options are open to pre-poll alliances with like-minded secular parties.”  

Initially a part of the NPF-led DAN coalition, the NCP however lost footing as according to Verma, its four legislators “defected.”  

He was critical of the Modi-led government at the Centre and also of the DAN coalition in Nagaland. The latter led by the NPF, he held, has failed. As far as the status of Nagaland is concerned (development-wise), he said that the people are not happy while referring to the condition of the roads and other public infrastructure.  

On the influence money has on elections here in Nagaland, he said that there has to be transparency in the flow of party fund and that political parties be brought under the ambit of the RTI Act.  

Queried whether the NCP believes in winning polls without having to spend crores, he referred to media reports about Anna Hazare remarking in jest about not wanting to contest elections because he lacked money power. Further asked whether that implied money has to be spent, he said, “NCP is against buying vote. NCP says no to this system. I believe the people of Nagaland will agree to this.”