Nagaland election 2023: Senchumo Lotha pitted against Deputy CM Patton

The Janata Dal (United) has officially declared Senchumo (NSN) Lotha as its candidate to contest in the upcoming state Assembly election from 37 Tyui Assembly Constituency (AC).

This means he may take on the sitting MLA of the constituency and incumbent Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton, of Bharatiya Janata Party.

NSN Senchumo Lotha, who is the president of JD(U), Nagaland, was given the party ticket at a programme held at Chukitong Range public ground, Wokha on Monday, in the presence of JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, MP, Lok Sabha; Sanjay Kumar Jha MLC, Bihar Minister of Water Resource and IPR; Aneel Hegde, MP, Rajya Sabha; and Afaque Ahmad Khan, MLC, Bihar and JD(U) national general secretary in-charge of Northeast.

It came a day after the party announced its first candidate — Kitoho S Rotokha – to contest in the upcoming poll from Ghaspani-II seat in Chumoukedemia district.

Speaking at the programme, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that the BJP government at the Centre has failed to keep the commitment to resolve and settle the Naga political issue, and that the saffron party has no right to seek votes from Nagaland.

While maintaining that the people of Nagaland deserve peace, he accused the Centre of bringing disunity and division among the people of the region, and urged the people to support JD (U) to intensively discuss and bring solution to their demand.

Singh lauded the effort of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in trying to bring the best solution, but opined that BJP is ‘not serious’.

He further wished the people of the 37 Tyui AC and the people of Nagaland to support the JD(U) party in the upcoming election in order to bring desirable achievement and development to the state.

Sanjay Kumar Jha, Aneel Hegde and Afaque Ahmad Khan also spoke on the vision of the party and their achievement. They assured progress to the Naga society if elected to power.

Lotha, who is also the national secretary of JD(U) and chairman of North East Coordinator Council (NEEC), thanked the Central party leaders of JD(U) for giving him the party ticket and pledged to uphold the party principles, fulfill the responsibilities and bring development to the 37 Tyui AC.

He assured his supporters and voters that he will give due importance and work for the interest and development of the community.

Maintaining that he is not contesting the election for power but to be a ‘servant of his supporters’, he assured them of his commitment to serve for the interest of the people and the will of God.

He urged his supporters to do away with clan politics, forgive each other and come together as one to witness progress.

The Nagaland Assembly election will be held on February 27 and counting of votes to be done on March 2.

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