Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister welcomes BJP’s decision continue pre-poll alliance with NDPP

Dimapur, July 28 (EMN): Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and BLP leader Y Patton has welcomed the decision of the BJP Central leadership to continue the pre-poll alliance with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in the upcoming 2023 state Assembly election and expressed confidence in the seat-sharing formula.

This was informed in a press release issued two days after the NDPP and BJP declared in a joint statement that the two parties would continue with the 40:20 seat-sharing (NDPP-BJP) in next year’s election, the same formula that was followed in 2018 polls.

Patton’s statement draws significance as it came amid reports that he was upset for keeping him in the dark on the joint declaration.

Maintaining that the Dy CM had reiterated on several occasions about the BJP-NDPP alliance completing the full term and even beyond, the statement said the alliance that is in power in the state has been sailing together for about four-and-a-half years without any hindrances and with its equi closeness policy.

“In any National party set-up, final decision solely rests upon the ‘High Command’, keeping in view the larger interest of the country and its prevailing situation. The Dy.CM has therefore expressed gratitude to the Central leadership, for their wisdom to let the alliance continue keeping in mind the regional context and National interest,” read the statement.

Patton further ‘appealed to the legislators and BJP karyakartas not to be dismayed by the seat-sharing adjustments, as it is done in the best interest of the people and a long-term vision of the party’. He also urged the party members give unflinching support to the alliance, adding that it is coming back stronger and better. ’Together, we shall commit ourselves and strive to strengthen the BJP-NDPP alliance for the greater good of the people of our state,’ he added.