Tovihoto’s supporters demand “additional portfolio”
Dimapur, March 6 (MExN): NPF supporters of Dimapur I assembly constituency are disgruntled. No cabinet berths have been offered to any MLA of a regional party since 1976 from here. The trend has been repeated this year. Dimapur I, which brought Tovihoto Ayemi to power in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly election, did not see a cabinet berth, instead having to do with Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology and Communication, Technical Education, Science and Technology in the DAN III.
“Dimapur is the only cosmopolitan city in Nagaland, but full of open sewages and flushed-out roads,” expressed Zarenthung, NPF youth president of Ward 2 of Dimapur I. “The little development works have been done by citizens, not government agencies. We were particularly promised that special emphasis will be given to Dimapur if we send our representative. Without any additional portfolio or responsibility allocated to Tovihoto, he will not be able to bring any development to Dimapur,” he explained.
Tovihoto’s supporters, while expressing concern over the party’s future here, have said that without an additional portfolio, people of Dimapur I will not work under NPF. If the government does not respond to this by Saturday, they will protest “democratically” and through peaceful means that could amount to a bandh.
The group was represented by NPF youth presidents from ten wards of Dimapur I who got together at Sema Tilla today to register their protest. Tovihoto’s camp has expressed that the urban development berth would be most suitable for him.
“People from the hills come to Dimapur for business. Science and technology is for the west, not the Nagas who do not even have proper roads,” said Heshika Yeptho, NPF youth president from Ward 1. Other supporters have termed the portfolio given to Tovihoto as elite and secondary.
The supporters appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for an “additional portfolio” for Tovihoto so that “we can boldly work to say that we, the NPF, have brought this change”. They said he should be made “in-charge” of Dimapur.
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