NLA legislators working together on Naga issue — Rio

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 6 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said that the 60 elected members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) were working together on the Naga political issue and that they aspire to bring solution during ‘their time’.

He was speaking at the thanksgiving programme of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) held at State Banquet Hall in Kohima, over National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate H Chuba Chang winning the 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency bye-poll unopposed.

The chief minister said that meetings were held with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) and the NSCN (IM) leaders along with the members of the opposition led by the Leader of the Opposition (TR Zeliang).

“As far as our approach to the Naga Political issue is concerned, the 60 elected members of the Nagaland Assembly are working together on Naga issue. And during our time, we must try to bring solutions to our problem,” he said.

He added that they had urged the negotiating parties and the government of India to expedite the negotiations, to be sincere and not to delay but bring about an early solution ‘which is the desire and cry of the people’.

“We remain grateful to the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji and BJP National President JP Nadda for their constant support and solidarity,” he said.

NDPP, BJP to ally in future too

Rio maintained that he met with Amit Shah and other BJP leaders in New Delhi during his recent visit to the national capital for the bye-election and shared that it was committed to upholding ‘the success of alliance now, even in future’.  

He added that the NDPP was committed to its alliance with the BJP.

While congratulating Chang on being elected unopposed, the chief minister acknowledged four ticket seekers who had applied for NDPP ticket but unanimously abided by the party’s principle of supporting the official candidate. ‘An excellent precedent has been set and party discipline has been exemplified,’ he said.

He placed on record to extend his appreciation to the coalition partner for keeping its commitment and spirit of alliance intact as well as lauded the NDPP party workers for tirelessly working in choosing the best candidate. He also thanked the 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency leaders for the mandate.

Rio stated that the new MLA was an old friend and colleague, a senior leader with tremendous experience and someone who could bring mature leadership to the PDA team. “His combination of experience and his vast presence of party experience will be an asset to the PDA government and I wish him a successful tenure and assure him of all our collective support and we look forward to working together,” he said.

Rio asserted that the thanksgiving service was significant as it came on the backdrop of the completion of three years of PDA government.

“For our progressive achievements and our cohesion in the government, this image has carried to the people and the success is through our work- the deed that we made Facta Non Verba- Action not words,” he said.

‘Continue to work for the people’

He told the PDA members that they had to convince the people through action and not mere promises; by showing examples and being constantly guided by the commitment and fulfilling its promises, manifesto and the PDA common minimum programme.

He reiterated that they should be constantly guided by the commitments which they had given to the people and continue to work for the people.

“There are several crucial and important issues that we continue to be faced with, but most important in our agenda is to deliver good governance under a spirit of transparency and justice. We assured meritocracy to the people and we continue to make efforts towards enhancing meritocracy,” said Rio.

He stated that efforts like establishment of the Staff Selection Board, removal of VIP culture, improvement of e-governance and use of technology to combat governance challenges remain at the core of the government’s initiatives.

Further, Rio urged upon the members of the party organisation to rededicate themselves towards the service of the people, beginning from the ministers and elected members, and to make concrete efforts to ensure that the policies and programmes of the government reach the targeted sections of the people in letter and spirit.

He added that collective efforts must be made in making the people understand and realise various initiatives and projects of the government. In this regard, he urged the party leaders and workers to create awareness in order to ensure that governance reaches the doorsteps of every household.

He stated that ‘each one of us must make sincere efforts towards realisation of this aspiration. Only then in our next election, people will support us again with a thumping majority’.

Stating that people have enormous expectations, he appealed the leaders to rededicate themselves towards the commitment and service of the people.

Rio also asserted that being elected unopposed speaks volumes about the polity of the state and PDA in action and will send the right message to all sections of the people and make things easier.

PDA will form govt. again — Patton

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton described the occasion as a ‘red letter day’ for the PDA government and expressed happiness for the people of 51-Noksen assembly constituency for electing its MLA H Chuba Chang unopposed.

He stated the BJP-NDPP alliance was ‘doing good job to win the confidence of the people under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’.

 “We are committed for governance and for all round development of our state which will go a long way,” he said.

President of NDPP and Chairman of PDA, Chingwang Konyak in his greetings said that winning the bye-election to 51-Noksen unopposed was because of PDA’s unity and that aspirants had to ‘think twice, withdraw and support the incumbent government’.

He also congratulated the PDA members, village councils and GBs for standing with the PDA consensus candidate. He exuded confidence that the rich experience of the new MLA would be an asset to the government.

He also extended gratitude to the rank and file and people of Noksen constituency for sending Chang to work with the PDA government.

In his speech, the new MLA, Chuba Chang said the people of Noksen area resolved to support the PDA consensus candidate and he was allotted the NDPP party ticket from five aspirants who had applied for it when the election was announced.

He thanked NDPP, PDA alliance partners, aspirants and the people of the 51-Noksen Assembly constituency.

He also expressed his allegiance to the party’s motto ‘Facta Non-verba’.

Earlier in the programme, PDA member secretary and Secretary General of NDPP Abu Metha said in his welcome address that Chang’s leadership would strengthen the PDA government towards nation building.