NCP to reorganise party for State electoral battle

Our Correspondent
Kohima July 5 (EMN): Newly appointed convenor of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Nagaland State, Vanthungo Odyuo Wednesday said that the party will undergo a process of reorganisation in order to strengthen the party to face the forthcoming State general elections scheduled in early part of 2018.
Addressing a press conference today at Dream Café, Kohima, Odyuo, who was recently appointed as convenor of Nagaland State NCP on June 10, 2017 by NCP president Sharad Pawar, has welcomed the responsibility entrusted on him. Prior before his appointment as the convenor, Odyuo served as the State secretary of NCP Nagaland unit under the leadership of Miatho-u Krose who resigned last year in November.
“Consequent to my appointment, I could glimpse on the challenges lying ahead of me. Nonetheless, I am prepared and determined with more zeal to rejuvenate the NCP in the State. I am more than optimistic that the party would perform well and increase tally of seats in the next assembly election,” said 53 year-old Odyuo who was also appointed as a member of the DAN Co-ordination Committee by Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu earlier this year on January 18.
Stating that the NCP will always uphold its principle of democratic values, Odyuo, who hails from Yikhum village under Wokha district, also made a sincere appeal to the people of Nagaland to join the NCP towards realising the goal of common welfare and for better and brighter days.
Replying to queries during the press conference, the NCP convenor while sharing his opinion on the practice of defection and shifting of allegiance by elected legislators termed such practice as discouraging and an act of betrayal.
Going by the records of defection and shifting of allegiance among the elected legislators, the NCP do not have a good history as six of their elected candidates who won the election in their respective constituencies have deserted the party to join the other parties during the last two general elections.
It may be recalled that in 2008, the NCP fielded eight (8) candidates out of which two candidates won the elections, but both deserted the party and joined NPF after three years. Again in 2013, 15 candidates from NCP contested the election out of which four candidates emerged victorious. However, three of them shifted their allegiance to BJP in June 2014, while the other found accommodation in the NPF party.
Further, it may be recalled that the NCP, since its formation in Nagaland in 1999, made its debut in the State’s electoral politics in 2003 elections by fielding seven (7) candidates, but failed in all the constituencies.
“Frequent defection and shifting among the political leaders is perhaps a discouraging trend. It exhibits lack of respect to self, party principle and above all betrays the confidence of the electorates,” Odyuo said and made a humble appeal to the electorates of Nagaland to discourage defection and horse-trading among the elected members as such trend negates the very principle of political integrity.
“Elected leaders are expected to remain loyal to the party and the electorates. Shifting allegiance depending on political weather is an act of betrayal,” he added.
“Despite all odds and humiliations by other party officials and elected members by deserting our party, I remain faithful and loyal to this party and will remain the same even in the near future abiding by the principle of the party policies,” said Vanthungo Odyuo who has been given the task to reorganise the party formation from ground zero.
However, with barely eight months left for the State general election, Odyuo said it will be a herculean task for the party to reach out to all the districts.
He told Eastern Mirror that the party will concentrate on some selective districts including Wokha, which he said has been the bastion for the NCP in the last two State elections. The other districts include Kohima, Dimapur, Phek and Mon. For the rest of the districts, Odyuo stated that it will depend on the response of the intending candidates.
The newly elected NCP convenor also foresees that his party will play an important role to play in the coming elections. He cited reasons stating that lots of infighting is going on within the NPF party which is also over crowded at the moment. He also shared his apprehension that NPF will face a major task during ticket distribution, as he feared it may divide the party members.
Replying to queries, Odyuo also stated that the party will decide whether to form a pre-poll alliance with any other party in the State. Though the NCP is part of the present DAN government, Odyuo added that his party’s move will be decided with time.