Dimapur, July 6 (EMN): As the countdown to 10 Northern Angami-I assembly constituency by-election begins, an imminent confrontation between a political heavyweight in the form of chief minister Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu and Kekhrie Yhome, an academician and a political greenhorn, is becoming increasingly clear.
On June 1 last, forty-one-year old Yhome had told a press conference of his desire to fight the by-election should the Election Commission of India (ECI) decides to conduct said election. The ECI, on June 29 last, had announced that the by-election to 10-Northern Angami-I assembly constituency would be held on July 29.
Even as rumours – most of which are politically engineered – continues to fly thick and fast, Yhome on Thursday told Eastern Mirror that he will ‘absolutely’ be inside the ring on June 29 next, taking swings at opponent(s).
“Absolutely. With the announcement of by-election for the vacant 10 Northern Angami (I) assembly constituency on 29 July, 2017, by the Election Commission of India, I would definitely like to seek the popular mandate of the people as per democratic practices”, he said in response to a query on whether he intends to contest the by-election having declared his candidature earlier.
Yhome also described Liezietsu as a ‘thorough gentleman’ who ‘represents the best of the old generation’, when asked to comment on the possibility of being pitted against the incumbent chief minister.
He however added: “I am aware that the chief minister is using his party workers to distribute hundreds of Milton flasks and radios to entice voters. The items are a poor choice of taste for an urban area like Kohima and it is definitely in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. I have enough evidences and statements from those who received the items.”
“Also, the chief minister’s office is using its machinery to entice voters with government jobs. I have already written to the election monitoring authorities that the decisions of the chief minister chaired cabinet meeting of 4 July, 2014 is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The law should soon take its course of action. Hopefully, these practices will change once we elect the right candidates”.
While maintaining that it was too early for him to talk of ‘political agenda’, he nevertheless shared that there could be hope for change only by re-empowering the public that the real power of democracy remains in their sacrosanct vote.
“As a young entrant, I want to quickly make some brief remarks. We need young legislators who will adapt to and challenge the needs of our times. The olden days of fooling our villagers by some few educated fellows are over. We need debates. We need progressive competition. Tirelessly shouting Article 371A is not going to take us anywhere.
“Look at the manner in which GST was but hurriedly passed over by a special assembly session, as if anybody understood its implications or urgency. If politics is about the power of policies to change the lives of people, it is our bounden duty to actively elect our right representatives, keeping in mind the constant need to prepare for our present welfare and for the care of our future”.
Yhome also reiterated his earlier announcement that he would contest as an independent candidate.
(Read full interview on Page 6 )
