TR Zeliang addressing election campaign programme at Peren town on April 15.
Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 15
Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today said that there is nothing wrong for a regional party like Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in having alliance with a National Party like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “because whether Government of the past or Government of the day, a small state like Nagaland is dependent on the Central Party which is in the power.”
“Whether one likes it or not, unless we develop cordial relationship with the Centre, a small State like Nagaland can neither bring solution nor progress in development activities,” he said while addressing election campaign programme for People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate Dr. Chumben Murry at Peren town.
“We have 24 Nationalist Factions which is adversely affecting our economy. If we are not serious to unite and resolve this protracted Naga Political Issue, our posterity will never forgive us,” he said.
Whether we can convince Central leaders being a Coalition Partner or as Opposition? Whose voice will be listened to by the ruling Government at the Centre?, he said.
As far as elected representatives are concerned, he said, we are united and we have come together and established Opposition-less Government for the sake of Naga Political problem and its early solution.
However, we must understand that 60 elected Members alone cannot bring Naga solution unless we shed our differences and come together with one voice for one solution which should be acceptable with the spirit of inclusiveness, he said.
Let us say the Opposition Team and the Ruling Team is going to play a Football game. In Opposition Team at the Centre or in the State, who is the Captain? Who is the Goal Keeper?
In Peren District, 3-4 people are moving round looking for 11 players but no one has raised their hand to be a player. Whereas under PDA Government, all 60 MLAs have decided to play and we have our Captain in the person of Neiphiu Rio, we have Centre Forward, Defence, Goal Keeper etc. The Team is complete and we will play as Naga Team representing the State of Nagaland. There is no players for Congress Party because people have lost hope in Congress which was manifested in 2023 election where none got elected out of 20 Candidates, he said.
Zeliang said “Dr Chumben Murry is not a stranger to us. Dr Chumben Murry is a highly qualified veteran Politician and had served as MLA of 38 Wokha Constituency for 2 terms in the past. He decided not to contest in 2023 with magnanimity and was serving as Advisor to Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio.”
The challenge before us right now is to bring Dr Chumben Murry to the Lok Sabha as MP and for this to happen, we must put in our strongest effort in getting him elected with a thumping majority, he added.
