Mokokchung, February 22 (MTNews): The Clean Election Movement (CEM), NBCC has informed that the proposed common platform debate that it had facilitated between BJP and Congress has been cancelled. It informed that the BJP has expressed their inability to participate in the debate, “owning to the program lined up in the coming days with a galaxy of Star campaigners and Central leaders visiting the State in the run up to the State election.”

 

According to CEM Convener Dr Villo Naleo, the cancellation was communicated by the BJP Spokesperson although the Congress responded positively.

 

It may be noted that one of the mandates of Clean Election Movement (CEM) in the state of Nagaland is to facilitate Common Platform to intending candidates as well as political parties.

 

It was on February 16 when the BJP Party Office, Kohima called out for a debate on the election manifestos to the Congress party when the CEM came forward to facilitate and stage the Common Platform for the two parties on February 23 in Dimapur.

 

“We express our unhappiness to political parties that hold no political accountability and for lacking in translating their words into action,” CEM stated and apologized to the public for the inconvenience and disappointment it may have caused.

 

CEM said that it takes exception to lofty rhetoric about democracy and said it endorses voting to be one of the most powerful tools for change to keep democracy vibrant and stand for clean, free, fair and informed choices.

 

CEM said it believes that the public sphere is the center and medium of democracy and all possible means and resources must be used to explore the possibilities of public discussion and added that public desire, aspiration and needs stand above party position and manifestoes.

 

“CEM’s Common Platform is a non-partisan space staged for transparent, open exchange of ideas and beliefs in an unscripted environment which the public deserves in any democracy from their leaders and political parties,” it also said.

 

CEM said it will continue to work in enhancing a safe and neutral space for educating the citizens through use of Common Platforms and other democratic means.

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