KOHIMA, JULY 6 (MExN): The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Saturday addressed its position on the controversy surrounding the recently conducted ULB election and the reported strained relations with its alliance partner, the BJP.
In a press statement, NDPP Media & Communication Committee said it was the proposal of the BJP to field candidates only in the assembly constituencies where the respective parties had elected members.
On the other hand, the NDPP had suggested for friendly contests. After discussion between leaders of both parties in Nagaland and in Delhi, it was decided that the spirit of the alliance will be adhered. In this principle, the NDPP and the BJP would field candidates in the respective assembly constituencies represented by 25 NDPP MLAs and 12 BJP MLAs, it stated.
In the remaining 23 constituencies, it was decided that there would be friendly contests if necessary, with agreement that in selected areas there would be local arrangements for friendly contests between the two parties.
The NDPP however termed it unfortunate that in contravention to the agreed principle, NDPP party leaders were “poached and offered BJP tickets under Chümoukedima Town Council (CTC).”
This antagonised party functionaries at the grassroots level resulting in the NDPP party fielding official candidates under CTC. Prior to this, the NDPP party leaders led by the MLA in-charge of the district called on BJP leaders to put together a formula wherein both the parties could participate in the elections with understanding. Unfortunately a working formula could not be formulated under CTC, it claimed.
Besides these aspects, the NDPP said it did not field a single candidate in the Nuiland Town Council election as a gesture of mutual respect and in observance of the spirit of the alliance.
However, aftermath the elections and declaration of the results, the NDPP said its leaders took the “mature and big hearted decision to maintain the spirit of the alliance throughout the State and work in close cooperation in a collective manner with its alliance partner in the greater interest of the citizens of the State.”
The NDPP then said it shall follow an inclusive approach and continue to maintain the positive teamwork that has been built up over the past years. “We will not allow electoral differences in the local elections to hamper our common vision of all round development and progress of Nagaland,” it added.
The NDPP party asserted that it has a vision and a plan to take an innovative and fresh approach to development and governance in the urban local bodies; make united efforts to make up for the lost years of two decades and, also set a benchmark to urban growth and progress.
Towards this aspiration, it appealed to all sections to unite under a spirit of oneness and let the “differences of elections be buried so that Nagaland marches forward striving towards excellence with the contributions of one and all.”
