A Staff Reporter
Dimapur, January 11
In a change of guard for the Nagaland State Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), retired bureaucrat and former party candidate, Visasolie Lhoungu, has been elected its president on January 11 as per the provision of Article XVIII clause-2.
Visasolie Lhoungu was elected by Electoral College comprising State council members in the presence of the BJP national secretary and MP, Raman Deka, as central observer and the BJP national secretary of Minority Morcha and in-charge of Nagaland, Farukh Khan. The appointment order was handed over by the State Election Officer (SEO) and Parliamentary Secretary, M Mmhonlumo Kikon.
Addressing media persons after the election at Hotel Saramati this evening, Farukh Khan said the election was conducted in fair and free manner basing on inner party democracy without any voice of dissension from the members.
He said Visasolie Lhoungu was elected unopposed following the proposal by the outgoing president, Dr. M Chuba Ao, and second that by Parliamentary Secretary Paiwang Konyak. He said the new State party president was elected out of the six nominations including one woman candidate.
Khan hoped the party would soar to higher level under the leadership of the new State party president and achieve its ultimate goal of forming the party government in the State. He thanked the State Election Officer (SEO) and Parliamentary Secretary, M Mmhonlumo Kikon, for successful conducted of State party re-organisation process. Khan also appreciated the outgoing president Dr. M Chuba Ao and the State secretary (Org) Prasant Arora for successfully leading the party.
Also speaking on the occasion, newly elected State party president, Visasolie Lhoungu thanked the party leadership both in the central and State for reposing faith on him to lead the party. Lhoungu has affirmed to primarily focus on strengthening and mobilize the party at all levels by upholding the party principles.
Lhoungu also dismissed the popular perception that BJP is anti-Christian by virtue of his election to the top post of the party in the State, who is himself a Christian. He hoped the party would do better in the ensuing State general election by considering that many retired bureaucrats have joined the party.
In another development, the State BJP party has also nominated T Khonwang Konyak as member of BJP national council to represent Nagaland.
Meanwhile, the State BJP has convened a meeting on January 12 in its party office at 10:30 a.m. All the outgoing executive members are requested to attend the meeting without fail.
