NDPP, BJP to continue seat-sharing deal — Nagaland Chief Minister

Says NDPP is regional in character but national in outlook

Our Correspondent
Wokha, April 8 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday said that the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) would continue seat-sharing deal and alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, adding that ‘NDPP is regional in character but national in outlook’.

Rio was speaking at the inaugural function of NDPP Wokha region office building in Wokha town.

He told the gathering that 2021 is a year for strengthening NDPP, not only by owning property but by working continuously starting from the grassroots level, enrolment drive, identification and search for potential candidates etc.

The chief minister said that the party’s office building was completed through the assistance of all stakeholders — elected legislatures of NDPP, contractors and various well-wishers. He also assured to accommodate everyone into the party’s fold, saying that the ‘door of NDPP is open’.

He further stated NDPP has become a brand that people now ‘rushed to obtain the party ticket to contest in the election’.

While maintaining that NDPP and BJP were doing well under People’s Democratic Alliance and would continue to strengthen the relationship, he expressed the need to have party working members in all assembly constituencies.

On the Naga political issue, Rio said that the opposition (NPF) and the ruling government were moving together with the vision and interest to bring permanent peace.

He added that ‘we must all work and think together to bring permanent peace in Nagaland and by building relationship to sort out differences’.

NDPP president Chingwang Konyak, who inaugurated the party’s office building in Wokha town, said that he retired from active politics but returned to the call to serve the will of people with political leaders of NDPP.

To strengthen the party, he said all active party workers and members need to streamline and play a vital role, starting from grassroots level. He informed that under the initiative of the chief minister, NDPP would soon have its regional offices in all the districts.

He went on to call upon the party workers to be dedicated and determined to put trust in the party leaders as it ‘is always people-centred’.

Advisor for Horticulture and Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan stated that NDPP was getting more attention and momentum in the district with members of various political parties joining the party.

He said NDPP would continue winning elections in the state and lead the government through the dynamic leadership of Rio and various senior members of the party.

Claiming that ‘only NDPP would bring change in Nagaland’, Yanthan called upon the party workers and members to trust in the leadership of Rio and work as loyal party workers in fulfilling the dreams of the Naga people.

Secretary General of NDPP, Abu Metha said that the party reflected the aspirations, desires and interest of the Naga people. He said the high command in NDPP was the grassroots level, which was the ‘real Naga voice’.

He told the gathering that “we cannot grow in isolation and it requires partnership”. Living up to its election slogan “Change is coming”, he said “today, change is here through NDPP with PDA alliance government”.

The event was attended by several NDPP political legislatures and central party workers. The party also laid a foundation stone for Tseminyu earlier in the day.