The Congress party is committed to bringing a change in the political scene of Nagaland, with plans to oust the current NDPP-led government and form a Congress-led administration in the 2028 Assembly elections, said Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, the newly appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) Incharge for Nagaland. Ulaka, who met with office bearers of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), emphasized the need for strategic planning and readiness for the upcoming elections.
“We are preparing for the 2028 elections to form a Congress-led government in Nagaland,” Ulaka said while addressing a press conference in Kohima. He highlighted the overwhelming support shown by the people of Nagaland for the Congress party during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the Congress candidate, S Supongmeren Jamir, triumphed over his nearest rival, Chumben Murry of the NDPP, by a margin of 50,984 votes. This victory marked the Congress’s return to power in the state after a gap of 20 years.
Ulaka criticized the current NDPP and BJP coalition government for its alleged misgovernance and for failing to address the state’s developmental issues, which, according to him, have left the people of Nagaland dissatisfied. ”It has been 20-22 years that we are out of power and I think the people of Nagaland deserve better governance, corruption-free governance, better solution to the problems,” he added.
The Congress party believes the current political situation in the state, marked by corruption and inadequate governance, necessitates a change. Ulaka reiterated that the people of Nagaland had expressed their desire for an alternative, which the Congress intends to fulfill.
“There is nothing that can stop us but as a party, as an organisation, what all things need to be done, we will do it right away and in a proper way,” Ulaka said, stressing the party’s commitment to securing a successful comeback.
He outlined a comprehensive strategy for the future, which includes reshuffling the leadership structure to better prepare for the elections. The plan involves meeting with district committees, identifying potential candidates, and forming committees at various levels.
In the next three months, the Congress will undertake district tours, finalize its committee structures, and ensure that its groundwork is thoroughly completed in time for the elections. “We are ready to ensure a corruption-free, development-oriented governance system,” Ulaka asserted.
NPCC president and lone Congress MP, S Supongmeren Jamir, backed Ulaka’s leadership, expressing confidence that with Ulaka’s guidance, the Congress could bring meaningful change to Nagaland. “We are confident that with the guidance of experienced leaders like Ulaka, we can bring justice and development to our people,” Jamir stated.
Ulaka also discussed broader issues affecting Nagaland, such as the quality of education, growing unemployment, inflation, and the rise in atrocities against women. He accused the current government of institutionalizing corruption in various sectors and criticized the steep rise in the prices of essential goods. “We also want to start identifying our potential candidates who can contest for the next election. We are very confident given the positive mood of the people and time has come for the Congress to step up,” he pointed out.
Ulaka concluded by highlighting the party’s long-term goals. “As a party or organization, what things need to done, we will do it right away and in a proper way and we are looking forward to it,” he said, adding that the Congress is preparing to take on both state and national political challenges, with an eye on the 2029 central government elections.
“We are doing our homework to ensure that when the time comes, we are ready to take the step to form the government at the centre and state,” Ulaka said. He also stressed the need to address pressing issues such as road conditions, education, and unemployment, calling out the current government’s failure to meet these challenges. “They have looted the state enough and it is high time,” Ulaka criticized, emphasizing the urgency for change in the political landscape.
Thanks for the comprehensive overview. Very helpful!