Former Congress leaders from the 58 Shamator-Chessore Assembly Constituency (A/C) have issued a rejoinder to the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s (NPCC) press statement dated March 13, 2025, refuting claims made about their resignation and shift to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In their statement, Luntsuba, former Tuensang District Vice-President of the Congress Party, and Lakhang, former Vice-President of the 58 ACC, now both members of the BJP, asserted that “thousands of voters who were in favor of the Congress Party in 58-Shamator-Chessore A/C after we joined Congress Party have now shifted allegiance to the BJP Party just recently.”
The former Congress leaders explained that their reasons for resigning from the party were clearly stated in their resignation letter. They alleged “poor leadership quality in 58 Smtr-Csr A/C, wrong people at the helm of affairs, illegal appointment of some ACC officials recently despite repeated objection made known to responsible higher-ups by the 58 ACC Congress party officials.”
They further accused the party leadership of ignoring their concerns, stating that “the ACC president recommended their candidature whereafter the Tsg district DCC President appointed them, thereby causing resentment and betrayal among the party officials.”
Addressing the NPCC’s statement about the party membership status of Royim, Working President, and Keoshu, Vice-President of the 58 Smtr-Csr ACC, the rejoinder stated that NPCC’s claim, based on the report of the DCC Tuensang, that they were not enrolled members of the Congress Party was “a blow on their face and smearing reputation by themselves.”
The former Congress leaders argued that their appointments were legitimate, saying, “Their appointment as the Working President and the Vice-President of the 58 Smtr-Csr ACC have been issued by the present President of the Tuensang district DCC vide order no: DCC/TSG/ADMN-01/2023 DT 5/12/23.” They further stated that Royim and Keoshu were “the first duo to have joined the Congress party in 2023, and had worked tirelessly to build up the party.” To substantiate their claim, they provided their enrolment details:
(i) Royim: Enrolment No: 1412044 dated 20/5/23
(ii) Keoshu: Enrolment No: 1412043 dated 20/5/23
Terming NPCC’s press statement as “a big joke,” they alleged that it was based on a false report from the DCC Tuensang and accused the Congress party of “ignorance, carelessness, despair, and total disregard to the members in the party.” The leaders further criticized the party’s approach, claiming that it reflected a “Use and Throw attitude.”
They demanded an immediate apology from the NPCC regarding the disclaimer about Royim and Keoshu’s membership, warning that “failing which they have stated that they would decide for further necessary action to redeem their maligned image.”
The statement affirmed their support for the BJP, asserting that “whatever statement of the President BJP Nagaland has been made in the Media is an undeniable fact and substantiated by proof.”