Morung Express News
Mokokchung | February 12
With the hullabaloo for ‘Election not Solution’ losing its steam, the election process to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) scheduled to be held on February 27, 2018 is in full swing.
All the major parties like the Naga People’s Front (NPF), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) etc have declared their candidates and filed their nominations.
This time round, all eyes are on the newly flouted NDPP, gaining more prominence after entering into a pre-alliance with BJP entered on February 3 on a 20:40 seat sharing formula.
NDPP, which has former Chief Minister and sitting Lok Sahba MP Neiphiu Rio and former Nagaland Chief Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir as the most prominent faces, will be banking on the seemingly people’s dissatisfaction with the present NPF led DAN Government.
The next Nagaland government, most political pundits agree, will be a coalition government with BJP, by being a virtue of the ruling Central Government, as a major player.
Former Chief Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir (IAS Retd), one of the main architects behind the formation of the party said that NDPP emerged as a ‘the choice of the people and not the decision of the leaders.”
“We have fifteen years of NPF misrule, let us say, and they have not given any direction for the development or change in the state… So people, the entire population of Nagaland was wanting (something) a viable under it,” said the former bureaucrat at an interview.
Jamir, who is also the NDPP Working President, is contesting in two constituencies – 25th Mongoya A/C and 24 Angetyongpang A/C.
“NPF has destroyed governance, rule of law was destroyed, and no question of justice and equity. So, all these things have to be put into place. Therefore, so we have resolved to put this into place in the next term,” Jamir argued.
The NDPP was ‘bothered’ about the election, but “suddenly the central BJP realized that the NDPP has lot of content” and decided to have a pre-poll alliance with the party, he further disclosed.
“We have allied with the BJP, I think it is helping to switch the mind of the people towards NDPP and we will form the next government,” maintained Jamir.
The main objective of NDPP, he said, is to bring back good governance to the people - a government which is transparent and accountable; which can dispense justice and equity to the people; and which can ensure the rule of law in the land.
The NDPP is looking at the association with BJP ‘as a means of partnership and not being dominated by the BJP,’ Jamir replied when queried its alliance with the BJP - a saffron party often accused of having a clear Hindutva ideals – in a Christian dominated state like Nagaland.
The BJP is a reality, you cannot simply close your eyes and wish it away. They are also a political party determined to participate in the government, he added. On the most pressing question about the Naga political issue, Jamir censured the NPF party for playing an ‘inactive role of just being an observer.’
“Once NDPP comes to power, the party will not be a mere observer but play a ‘proactive role’ and strongly urge the Government of India and the Naga political groups to hasten the peace process and come to a solution as desired by the whole Naga people,” the NDPP Working President declared .
Meanwhile, the list of the party candidates is a mixture of new faces and also some old faces and former NPF MLAs who shifted their allegiance like Zhaleo Rio, Dr Nicky Kire and some others.
It includes, among others, former bureaucrats, a police officer, and a former magistrate.
“The list has seasoned politicians, experienced civil society leaders, dynamic young faces, accomplished former technocrats and bureaucrats, legal experts and highly capable personalities,” NDPP Secretary General, Abu Metha said while releasing the list on February 5.
As the Election Day approaches, in many constituencies, there will be a closely contest between the NPF and the NDPP-BJP alliance.
