Nagaland ULB Polls: Congress candidate accuses Netaji Colony council, GB of disrupting poll campaign

DIMAPUR — As campaigning intensifies for the municipal and town council elections in Nagaland, scheduled to be held on June 26, the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate for Ward 8 of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has accused the Netaji Colony gaon burahs (GBs) and council members of disrupting his door-to-door campaign.

In a press conference held at Congress Bhavan in Dimapur on Thursday, INC candidate Khrozote Kapfo, who is up against BJP’s George Ayemi for the Ward 8 seat in a dual contest, alleged that the council members and GBs of Netaji Colony had prevented him from conducting door-to-door campaigning on June 19, saying that he had no right to do so.

Claiming that he had attempted to meet with the council members for the past month to discuss his campaign plans but the members did not respond, he said he decided to begin his door-to-door campaign as time was running out.

However, he claimed that the council members pulled up his team and questioned him for campaigning with people who were not residents of Ward 8.

In this connection, he asked why his opponent, who he claimed is not from Ward 8, was allowed to contest.

Meanwhile, Kapfo said that he was born and raised in Ward 8, making him a legitimate candidate for the area.

Further, he said that his campaign materials were damaged by unknown miscreants.

Speaking about the incident, the Dimapur District Congress Committee President, Kutoho Chishi, said that they haven’t filed any complaint yet but suggested the Circle Officer urgently address the matter with the candidate.

He went on to say that Kapfo’s only intention was to introduce himself to the ward residents and declare his candidacy for Ward 8 under the Congress banner.

Council members clarify

Meanwhile, N Lasuh, the GB of Netaji Colony, told reporters at his residence on Thursday that the council members of the colony had decided to prohibit campaigning in large groups within the colony to maintain peace.

Regarding the claims of the Congress candidate, he explained that Kapfo was accompanied by a group of 10-15 youths during his door-to-door campaign in the colony, which is mainly inhabited by non Nagas. The large gathering outside their homes, he said, caused fear and a sense of threat among the residents.

Upon receiving information about the situation, the council members intervened and asked Kapfo’s group to leave, said Lasuh.

Stating that the Congress party may have misunderstood the council members, he said the council did not have a written order but had informed the members that large gatherings could potentially disrupt the peace of the community, and therefore discouraged.

Campaigning with 3-4 individuals are acceptable but larger groups could potentially cause tension between different political parties, he added.

Bosheto Ayemi, a council member, said that the colony council does not endorse any particular candidate. He, however, recalled that the BJP candidate had approached the council for permission to campaign in the colony several years ago, and at that time, there were no other candidates seeking to represent the ward.

He also claimed that Khrozote Kapfo had not contacted the council prior to filing his nomination, and that they were informed about his candidacy only after he had already filed the papers.

On Kapfo’s claim that the BJP candidate is not from Ward 8, he said that George Ayemi is a resident of the ward.