Lok Sabha election 2024: Congress alleges plans for booth capturing in Nagaland

KOHIMA — The Congress said that it has lodged a formal complaint with the state Chief Election Officer (CEO) over booth capturing apprehension on the polling day in at least 12 assembly constituencies (AC) in Nagaland.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Kohima on Monday, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, Girish Chodankar claimed that various inputs from reliable sources hinted at the supporters of the ruling PDA government having started working on a strategy for booth capturing ‘two days ago’.

The areas of concern, he said, included assembly constituencies namely: 1 Dimapur-I, 2 Dimapur-II, 3 Dimapur-III, 4 Ghaspani-I, 5 Ghaspani-II, 9 Kohima Town, 11 Northern Angami- II, 19 Phek, 20 Meluri, 37 Tyui, 38 Wokha and 29 Jangpetkong.

Chodankar claimed that ‘frustrated’ by the reports of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidate, S Supongmeren Jamir winning, the ruling party is trying to win the election through ‘illegal means’.

In this connection, the Congress party is said to have sought an appointment with the CEO to ensure a free and fair election.

“I’m confident that the upright offices of Election Commission, including the CEO and various polling officers and the entire machinery of the election commission, will take this matter very seriously,” he added.

Cabinet berth for Jamir

Meanwhile, Chodankar claimed that the INDIA bloc would form a government at the Centre and, “Nagaland will find a berth in the cabinet in Delhi”.

Substantiating this while replying to a query, he maintained that the NPCC president, who is also the candidate for the state’s lone parliamentary seat, has not only worked hard to revive the party in the state but also contributed to making Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra a ‘big success’.

“I’m sure he will be a very good cabinet minister at the Centre and will take care of entire north-east and not only Nagaland. He is capable,” he said.

He went on to say that the Congress’ confidence is based on the views of the people including those associated with the present government which has “attacked the democratic institutions and minority institutions all over the country, and created fear and insecurity among the minorities”.

The mood of the country is changing, he asserted, adding that this election is about safeguarding the future of the India and the Constitution.

Kharge to address rally in Dimapur

Further, the senior Congress leader announced that AICC president, Mallikarjun Kharge will address a public rally in Dimapur on Tuesday, and the entire party organisation has been gearing up for the event.

On behalf of the AICC and the NPCC, he urged the people and various NGOs “fighting against the atrocities of the central government”, civil society organisations as well as church leaders, to join the rally and vote for the party’s candidate.

Further, Chodankar took a swipe at BJP, saying that the statement made by its president JP during his recent visit to Nagaland was nothing but empty rhetoric to woo voters.

Stating that it is up to the people of Nagaland to choose whether they would elect a candidate, who is in alliance with the party which is responsible for the violence in Manipur, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the time to sit on the beach and take photos, canvass across the country and make foreign trips, but does not have the time to visit Manipur.

It is the responsibility of every voter in Nagaland to send a strong message to the BJP and its allies that the minorities and secular voters are not going to tolerate the attacks in the northeast and other parts of the country, he added.

NPCC working president Khriedi Theunuo and chairperson of NPCC Communications Department Yanger Longkumer, were also present at the press conference.