Congress releases manifesto for municipal, town council elections

Promises ‘clean councils’ and ‘councils for people’

Dimapur, Dec. 27: With barely one month to go for elections to urban local bodies (ULBs) in the State, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress released its 17-point manifesto promising ‘clean councils’ and ‘councils for people’. The elections to urban local bodies are scheduled for February 1, 2017.

“Congress stands for clean councils and councils for the people,” said NPCC president K Therie while releasing the party manifesto at Congress Bhavan Dimapur on Tuesday.
Among the promises made by Congress are corruption-free and clean governance, preservation of historical places and preparation for tourism, blue[print for township development, management of drains, sanitation and solid wastes, blueprint for sewage system, facilitation and regulation of daily markets, proper weights and measures for all ietms etc.

Welcoming the 33% reservation for women in urban local bodies, Therie said women’s participation in the decision-making process is crucial and added that dragging the reservation issue into Nagaland Assembly Resolution was uncalled for since the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001 was in force.

The Congress manifesto also said urban local body elections were deliberately delayed and the powers and benefits were misused and mismanaged by NPF-BJP Government by nominating NPF workers as members of municipal and town councils for the past seven years.

It maintained that nomination of council members were illegal and unconstitutional for they were not authorised by the people according to Municipal Act 2001 and the act of nomination was contempt of the Municipal Act and the principles of democracy.

Addressing media persons at the release of the manifesto, Therie also made a blistering attack on the demonetisation of high-value notes, saying the Government of India has sucked common people’s money while staying out of their woes.

Nagaland with more than 80% rural population and without bank accounts cannot go on with cashless transaction while the loss incurred by farmers and traders cannot be assessed, Therie said.

“If one is voting for BJP and NPF than he/she is endorsing demonetisation and corruption. If one votes for an Independent candidate than he/she is voting for no issue. But a person who votes for Congress votes against
corruption and demonetization,” said Therie.

He said urban voters who are considered as ‘elite society’ should not send a wrong message by voting for the wrong political group.

Though the State Congress came strongly in support of 33% reservation for women, the party said it has not decided on women candidates while stating ‘women represent 50% of the society and have a significant role in bringing a decent society’.

The Congress also promised to protect welfare schemes that include civil supplies, water supply, power supply, old-age pension, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), cashless health cards for BPL people and also to set up Independent Pricing Commission headed by a retired High Court judge. The party also promised to plan and bring mother dairy system in the State.

The party further spoke about working with Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) for daily needs, providing clean, green and renewable energy and preserving and protecting the environment.