Nagaland Chief Minister accepts letters of support by political parties

Reyivolü Rhakho/ Menuse-O Max Khieya
Kohima: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has accepted the letters of support submitted to him by different political parties paving the way for another opposition-less government in Nagaland.

Naga People’s Front (NPF) MLA Achumbemo Kikon informed this to Eastern Mirror during an interaction on Sunday evening.

Kikon shared that Rio expressed desire to work hand-in-hand, particularly on the Indo-Naga political issue as well as delimitation and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) elections.

The ruling NDPP-BJP alliance won the majority of assembly seats, 37 in total, in the recent general election, while 23 seats were shared by various political parties including seven Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); five National People’s Party (NPP); two each by NPF, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Republican Party of India (Athawale); one Janata Dal (United) and four Independents.

It was learnt that Rio had reciprocated the desire expressed by the other political parties to work closely with the ruling NDPP-BJP alliance particularly on major issues confronting the state during a formal dinner with all the elected legislators on March 18 evening at the state banquet hall.

Kikon reiterated that the chief minister was said to be “happy” with the decision taken by all the political parties that have expressed desire to work alongside the Rio-led NDPP-BJP government, adding that “all must come together and work together”.

Prior to the dinner on Saturday evening, it was learnt that NDPP and BJP held a meeting wherein Rio had a discussion pertaining to the letters of support submitted to him by other political parties.

“It was just a good meeting with all the legislators,” said Temjen Imna Along, BJP legislator and minister of Tourism and Higher Education.

Meanwhile, Eastern Mirror had also spoken to some of the political party leaders to gauge their current positions.

State NCP president, Vanthungo Odyuo, said the party has “no regret” in extending support to the ruling government.

“We already gave a letter of support and it’s up to the chief minister whether he will accommodate us or not.We are not a decision-making body, we are just supporting, so let the time speak”, he said.

He further added they will not change colour and would remain as the NCP.

‘The elected members often shift loyalty to other political parties. But we are very serious and will not allow the NCP candidates to run away from the party’, he asserted.

The president also said that NCP was “ready” for opposition but the other parties had left, leaving them ‘no option but to support the government’.

NPP State President, Dr. Andrew Ahoto Sema, meanwhile, told this newspaper that they have left it to the wisdom of the state leaders “to accommodate” the other elected members into whichever posts that would be coming up.

‘The coalition of the BJP and NDPP has reached the number as they wanted. But we have to understand one thing that we are a part of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), so we leave it to the wisdom of the state leaders how they can accommodate the others into whichever posts that will be coming up’.

“So, we see that probably they will first give preference to the NEDA, their partners and also the NDA. They would be the first one to give that into priority. That’s what we are looking into,” Sema said.

The NPP has not made a pre-poll alliance but made a post-poll alliance with NEDA, he said, adding that it will be left to the wisdom of the state and Central leaders.

Meanwhile, Achumbemo Kikon, while addressing a press conference on Saturday, had said that NPF had extended support to the PDA government in the last tenure for the Naga political issue.

Therefore, the question of “merger” with other political parties in case the present ruling government does not accept other parties “does not arise”.