Morung Express News
Kohima | May 22
With an aim to re-invigorate the Party, inflicted among others with defections and waning influences, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has decided to undertake a unique decentralisation process as well as concentrating on young candidates in the upcoming State Assembly election.
The decentralisation, both in the governance and in the party, will be launched with the objective of enabling grassroots participation in the process of political election, stated NPCC President K Therie and General Secretary Medokul Sophie addressing a press conference here at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on May 22.
Under the new unique process, the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) will frame the Party policies, programs, ideologies, principles and also impart trainings while the Assembly Constituency Committees (ACC) will be empowered to nominate respective candidates, they informed.
The ACCs are ready in 59 Constituencies.
An optimistic Therie further predicted that due to drastic changes in the movement of the Naga society, there will be a sizeable shift of power from the present government (which is in alliance with the BJP) to secular forces.
“Congress is the only secular party available in Nagaland,” he asserted adding that the other parties are “either in the RSS and BJP wing, or supporting the BJP.”
Furthr stating that “Now the ruling vote will be divided atleast into three,” Therie anticipated a shift of votes from the ruling party.
“Atleast seven to ten percent votes will be shifted due to anti-BJP sentiments while a three to five percent vote will be shifted on account of anti–incumbency,” he added projecting anywhere between 10 to 15 percent vote shift in favor of the Party.
“If that really happens, then Congress would have absolute majority in the next election.”
Some erstwhile Congress voters may have parted with the Party due to “some shortcomings” on its parts, the NPCC President admitted but stressed on reconciling with them.
“The main point,the State needs a secular party and we want to reconcile with all those voters so that we fight back BJP and RSS here in Nagaland,” he said asserting that the Congress is the only secular party which can “guarantee freedom of religion and also defend and protect the identity of the Nagaland”
Focus on young candidates
Further, believing that the State in Nagaland is desperately in need of change, the NPCC will be concentrating on young candidates in the coming general elections.
“Why we feel we should have the youth is because with the old ones, if you elect them again they will be jackals,” Therie pointed out.
“We cannot expect clean governance in the existing 60 MLAs because nobody is clean,” he further alleged adding that they “do not represent their people and therefore Nagas do not deserve such kind of leaders.”
“Our people do not have any expectation from the government. They don’t even want to complain, because there is no response from the government. We feel sorry for our people,” added Therie.
Pinning its hopes on younger generation, Therie cited the example of 39 year old Emmanuel Macron, the newly elected French President to buttress his point.
“Many of our youths are capable to become some of the best legislators in the State. Therefore we expect it as an opportunity for the youth to participate in the next elections”
The Party, Therie claimed, has been contemplating on the youth candidates for quite some time.
“We want to focus on the youthful and youth candidates in the coming election. There is big vacuum in the leadership in Congress as the old ones have defected. We want to give an opportunity for the youth to participate and change in the State,” he added.
“The young generation should now seriously take over,” affirmed Therie affirmed.
