Following the commotion created outside Deputy Home Minister Y Patton’s residence on Sunday evening by supporters of one of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intending candidates demanding a ticket for their candidate, the condemnation for 40:20 seat sharing between the NDDP and the BJP has increased, giving rise to a new slogan ’30:30′.
The BJP’s followers and workers have now demanded for a fifty-fifty split of seats between the two alliances.
Earlier today, Kohima BJP Mandal workers protested the BJP-NDPP seat sharing, demanding a party ticket for ex-MLA Er Kropol Vitsu Southern Angami-II.
According to Khrielie Usou, Kohima District President of the BJP, the BJP Kohima district is requesting only one ticket, despite the fact that the BJP Kohima has a good chance of winning at least three tickets provided they were given the chance.
“But because of the seat sharing policy, we cannot ask for the whole winnable candidate. Unlike other district, we are demanding only one ticket… that was also not given to us. By hook or crook we must get this,” he said and added, “If they ignore our request and succumb to the pressure of our ally, and they divert the interest of the party by taking the ticket to other district, that will not be accepted by the Kohima district”.
Meanwhile, in Dimapur, similar protest was staged by the supporters of the BJP intending candidates in the Super market area demanding for a better representation. This was followed by a press conference by the nine intending candidates seeking for BJP tickets. The nine candidates were from the following constituencies:
· Dr Temsuwati of 27 Mokokchung A/C
· James Yaden of 21 Tuli A/C
· Tarie Zelaing of 6 Tening A/C
· Naiba Konyak of 55 Tobu A/C
· Hukiye N Tissica of Aghunato 34 A/C
According to BJP Mokokchung President Imolemba, the BJP Mokokchung in a meeting today has resolved to support and demand the 30:30 seat-sharing through peaceful means by holding banners.
“It is only because we share the seat otherwise, Nagas have now comprehended Prime Minister Modi’s working style and can understand that Modi’s working style is truly good. As a result, the Nagas have a good understanding of the BJP,” he told Mokokchung Times.
He also stated that, while the seat-sharing concept is fine, they are not content with the 40:20 ratio and believe that it should be 30:30, and expressed with hope that the final decision will be made very soon.
In a letter signed by 21 district officials, the BJP Mokokchung District has requested the National Party President to award a ticket to the BJP Mokokchung District In-charge and one of the senior most BJP leaders, Nuklutoshi Longkumer for the 22 Arkakong Mandal.
According to party officials, they learned from a reliable source that Longkumer will not be given a BJP ticket to contest the upcoming election to the 14th Nagaland State Assembly, and thus the officials, while referring to him as “one of the most loyal karyakartas in the state,” appealed that Longkumer be given a BJP ticket by any means.
Delhi intervenes
Meanwhile, according to sources, Delhi has decided to intervene in the latest row of seat sharing arrangement between BJP and NDPP in Nagaland. The decision was taken after the protest at Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton’s residence in Dimapur.
“Delhi is likely to take a decision into the matter before January 29,” reports said.
Meanwhile, as the BJP descends into disorder, the opposition anticipates a large number of candidates who did not receive NDPP-BJP tickets to join them.
Watimongba, the president of the Mokokchung District Congress Committee, told Mokokchung Times that they had three candidates in Mokokchung so far and are anticipating more. However, he stated that such candidates will be confirmed once the NDPP-BJP seat distribution is determined.
According to Moasangba, president of the NPF Mokokchung Division, they are anticipating roughly six candidates in Mokokchung district, but the exact number will be determined by the 27th or 28th of this month.
Tsuknung Jamir, Mokokchung District National People’s Party (NPP) head, stated that “we will wait for them to get sorted first” because the NDPP-BJP ticket sharing is in a state of flux.
He did, however, say that he expects roughly 7-8 NPP candidates in Mokokchung District, adding that those candidates will be ‘gold’.