Dr. Liezietsu says Nagaland assembly election ‘purely money game’

Kohima: The president of Naga People’s Front (NPF), Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, claimed that the last election was ‘purely a money game and only in name in which political ideology and principles have no place and that even election manifesto has no meaning for the people.’

He was speaking during a thanksgiving programme on Saturday to honour Kezholuzo Nienu and Achumbemo Kikon, the only two winning NPF candidates in the recently concluded general elections, held at the NPF central headquarters in Kohima.

Lashing out at the ruling NDPP-BJP alliance, Dr. Liezietsu claimed that with the money power and other government machineries, the ruling alliance have put in maximum efforts to crush NPF, the only regional political party in Nagaland. However, he stated that the two MLAs survived against all the onslaughts.

“I called them big winners,” he said.

He said Neinu will continue to be their leader, while Kikon, the party general secretary, will serve as the whip in the 14th House of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Despite the party winning only two out of the 60 seats, Dr. Liezietsu said there was no reason to be discouraged because NPF is the ‘only party which is deeply rooted in the Naga society and on Naga soil while the rest are all migratory political parties.’

Awangbou Newmai, NPF president of Manipur state unit and minister, congratulated Nienu and Kikon on winning the election and expressed hope that the two would lead the party and Naga people. He also acknowledged all the official candidates who have given ‘a good fight.’

Newmai said Nagas living in other states look up to the party and that even the leaders at the centre consider NPF party to be the ‘real representative of the Naga people.’

The minister also said that NPF is not ‘finished’ though it has gone through political troubles and reminded that ‘in election sometimes we get less seats and sometimes we get more seats.’

“Our fight will continue because we are not defeated and finished yet,” he said and affirmed to continue standing behind the two legislators, who will be speaking on their behalf in crucial decision making whether inside or outside of the assembly.

“We are not lesser than any party or people,” he said.

He has emphasised on the need of the party ‘to stand stronger and harder than before.”

Also speaking at the programme, Nienu conceded their defeat but reminded that it was time for them to create the best situation of the worst result. He stated that out of the 22 candidates set up by the party, 17 contested while five surrendered to other candidates for reasons best known to them.

He went on to stress on the need to give their best to revive the party under the leadership of its president.

Kikon said that that NPF had never registered ‘nil’ result over the years in the state assembly election.

While underscoring the need to strive harder to take the party and Naga people forward, he said they would speak for the people in the assembly.

He added that NPF is still a ‘strong party’ which has survived various challenges despite some left the party.

On Naga political issue

Interacting with media persons soon after the event, Kikon affirmed that the question of merging with NDPP-BJP alliance does not arise even though they have already dispatched the letter of support to the chief minister of Nagaland basing on the need to support the Nagaland political issue.

He asserted that in the event the alliance government does not reciprocate despite issuing their letter of support, they would be left with no other choice but to take another step.

Nienu said they will be putting up questions and speak for the rights of the Nagas in the upcoming assembly session. As far as the Naga political issue was concerned, he said that the public has literally condemned and criticised them for taking up such issues only at the fag-end of their tenure.

However, Nienu reiterated that they want to seriously push the Naga political issue forward and bring it to a logical conclusion since NPF champion the cause of Naga political issue from the beginning.

Referring to speeches made by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, on February 21 followed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on February 24 to resolve all Naga political problems, he said that one year would be enough to wind up the issues.

Stating that it was high time for Shah and Modi to walk the talk, he reminded that the legislators too should show their political will to resolve the Naga issue.