Kohima, September 15 (MTNews): National president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) JP Nadda said that the party will stand by its commitment of the 20:40 seat-sharing strategy with chief minister Neiphiu Rio-led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
Nadda made the statement moments after deputy CM and leader of the state’s BJP legislature Party, Y Patton, urged the central leadership to enhance the number of seats for the party to an equal footing of 30:30 with NDPP for the 2023 Assembly polls during a meeting with the state’s party workers at the Capital Cultural Center (CCC) in Kohima on Thursday evening.
He said that the decision of the national party has to be fulfilled and urged the party workers to have faith in the national leadership. “As far as strategy is concerned, we know how to grow,” Nadda said.
Reacting to Patton’s statement, Nadda said that the “lotus must bloom” but at the same time, the party should respect the commitment made by the central leadership, as it is also the responsibility of the state. “We stand committed to fulfilling the promise we made,” the BJP chief said.
Earlier, Patton challenged the party workers to follow the direction of the central leaders and work together and allow “lotus to bloom” in Nagaland while addressing the gathering.
“It is high time for Nagaland to have our own government. I assure, if given the chance, that we will try our best to have the lotus bloom and have our own government in the state,” Patton said.
He said that the people of the state have been praying for the long lives of PM Narendra Modi and Nadda.
Patton said that the party workers have been working religiously across the state. “If the 2018 seat-sharing strategy with NDPP remains at 40:20, it will only portray that Nagaland BJP party workers did not perform well in five years’ time, which is contradictory,” he said.
He also claimed that the BJP has the “largest number of party workers registered in the state with over 5 lakh members.” He argued that if there is seat sharing, it should at least be 30:30. Patton assured that the BJP will win 25 seats in the next election and urged the central leadership to have a second thought for seat sharing.
Nadda who is on a 2-day visit to the state said that emphasis was given to infrastructure and development of North East, especially Nagaland.
He said that the National Highway network in Nagaland has been extended to 1547 km today from 880 km in 2014. He also said Rs. 100 crores has been spent in Nagaland in health care.
He also expressed satisfaction that the vote percentage of BJP in Nagaland has gone to 15% from 1.8 percent.
