Nagaland BJP functionaries seek replacement of state’s party president

Dimapur, Feb. 25 (EMN): The functionaries of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mokokchung district have sought to streamline the party’s organisational setup in the state by replacing the incumbent BJP Nagaland President Temjen Imna Along.

In a letter addressed to BJP In-charge of Nagaland, Nahil S Kohli, a copy of which has been made available to this newspaper, BJP Mokokchung vice presidents — Nuskshi I Ozukum, T Nukshi Jamir, Watitemsu – and secretaries — Lanuyanger Longkumer, Tekanungla, Alepla Chang – claimed that the party state unit has been “going through a very serious crisis since from the year 2020 due to certain failings on the part of the incumbent BJP president”.

‘This is a festering problem which is gravely affecting the overall functioning, goodwill and image of the BJP Nagaland state down to the grassroots level in the entire state of Nagaland,’ the letter read, adding that the leadership issue surfaced last year after district and organisational party members demanded Along’s removal from the president’s post.

While lauding the Central office for intervening and resolving the leadership issue last year, it claimed the crisis is far from over as Along “still fails to discharge his duties as the ‘president’ of the BJP Nagaland state”, and thus hampering the functioning of the party in the state.

According to the letter, the BJP Mokokchung district discussed the issue at a meeting held on February 22 and decided to demand the replacement of the incumbent BJP state unit president.

It stated that the Along, who is a cabinet minister in the PDA government, holds the post of BJP Nagaland State President, by virtue of which he is the co-chair of the incumbent government.

“His duties and responsibilities as the state BJP President is being greatly hampered because of his many responsibilities and duties,” the letter read, adding that “the entire BJP setup in the state is disillusioned” because of his inability to discharge his duties as the president when the party is steadily gaining grounds in the state.

The letter went on to add that BJP Mokokchung district officials are very concerned if this leadership issue will the position of the party in the state. Stating that the district has two elected BJP MLAs and “is making inroads in the whole district”, it said the issue “is restraining the effective campaigning of the BJP for the next election”.

Citing these reasons, the BJP Mokokchung unit requested the BJP In-charge of Nagaland to take necessary action at the earliest possible time in the greater interest of the party in the state.