Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 31
Scores of senior leaders and party workers of the Nagaland State BJP unit on Wednesday staged a protest rally at the party’s head office in Dimapur, demanding removal of the party president, Visazolie Lhoungu.
The BJP leaders and workers also protested against the alleged move of the party president to shift the party’s head office from Dimapur to Kohima.
After the protest rally and meeting, senior party leaders in a press briefing explained the reasons and circumstances that compelled them to call the rally. The BJP leaders also handed over copies of a press release issued by Advisor, BJP Nagaland, and former Deputy Chief Minister, IK Sema, which stated that the BJP in Nagaland has not been able to function smoothly or effectively due to factors like “lack of proper leadership, clear direction and lack of coordination and team work...”
The release alleged that the incumbent state BJP president, who was “imposed in the state by the central leadership without any election or consensus”, did not even submit a memorandum, which was prepared after detailed deliberations by the senior members and State BJP office bearers in August 2016, and addressed to the Prime Minister and the BJP National president.
“Instead, the contents were leaked to the then CM, who was not a member of BJP”, the release stated.
“Again, in October 2016, a drafting committee was appointed by the party in a meeting on 31st Oct when Mhonlumo Kikon, BJP MLA, was unceremoniously dropped from the ministry by the CM without any consultation with the BJP leadership and the committee submitted the draft memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister and national president. This was to be approved by the State Executive”, it stated.
However, the release informed that even after a lapse of six months, the matter has been kept pending till date by the State BJP president.
The rebel BJP leaders also accused the party president of functioning like a “dictator in terms of appointment of office bearers and dismissing them” and cited the case of three senior office bearers of the state unit who were dropped without even serving show cause notice but through an order stating “as directed by the central leadership.”
The leaders also alleged that thereafter as many as 6 senior office bearers were just dropped and replaced by junior members without any consultation with the advisor or senior colleagues or legislators.
Further, the release pointed out that on May 13 the State BJP president had given his reaction to speculations which appeared in some local media that he would be contesting the 2018 assembly election on NPF party ticket.
“This speaks volumes about his loyalty especially towards BJP. Can there be fire without smoke?” the party leaders and workers questioned.
The release informed that earlier in April this year, eleven senior party members had written to the BJP national president to reorganize the party starting with the state president and that the 12 district BJP presidents had also given a reminder on the same matter during their recent meeting with the central leaders.
Affirming that BJP Nagaland is trying to revitalize itself and gear up for the 2018 assembly election and to improve its delivery to the people of Nagaland, the release stated Wednesday’s meeting decided that all out efforts would be made to ensure “the functioning of the BJP is made effective in the state by removing the thorn, puppet and those who are not loyal to the party starting with the president.”
BJP says it is the only alternative political party
Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 31
Nagaland BJP President, Visasolie Lhoungu today said that BJP is the only alternative political party in Nagaland for the next general elections to form the government. He claimed that the people have now started accepting the BJP party, lots of people are joining the party and a lot of intending/probable candidates are coming up.
Speaking at the 5th executive meeting of Kohima district BJP here today, he stressed on the need to identify the intending/probable candidates so that the party be part of the government in the next election.
“It is sure that BJP will come to power,” he said adding that the central BJP has also prepared a plan and has Nagaland as their next target. “We should not have small time player all the times,” he said adding that BJP has become a major party in the state and that is why criticism and false allegation are doing the rounds.
He said that it was because of the improvement of the party position that opposition parties have come up with criticisms. “We have to be ready. We have to be broadminded and fully gear up to face such challenges,” he said.
He maintained the party position can be improved only through hard work and unity, and challenged party workers to bring more members and also identify probable candidates. Lhoungu also called for strengthening the party at the grassroots level.
“Our party is against corruption. We want to have corruption free government,” he said adding that the BJP party wants to deliver equal opportunity and give equal service to everybody.
Regarding economic development, the State BJP President said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all developmental programmes are being implemented successfully and development is taking place in full swing.
Regarding criticism faced on grounds of religious issue, he stated that the BJP is not a religious party and neither is it against any religion.
Lhoungu meanwhile informed that the National BJP President, Amit Shah will be visiting the state in August this year and will address a public rally in Kohima.
Party suspends three members
DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): The BJP Nagaland State Unit has “disowned” the protest today and suspended three of its party members. A press note from the party unit’s General Secretary informed that the suspended members are IK Sema, HK Khullu and Yanghose Sangtam. The press note further termed the protest as an “unauthorized meeting organised by few State BJP members and displaying placards against the State President and shouting slogans against the Central leaders for their own personal interest.”
