The Congress on Monday intensified its campaign for the 28 Koridang (ST) Assembly by-election in Longkhum and Alichen, projecting the contest as a broader battle for “secularism, brotherhood and plurality,” even as pre-poll tensions surfaced in parts of the constituency earlier in the day.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of campaign events, Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, Lok Sabha MP from Odisha, who is in Nagaland as a star campaigner, said the party was navigating the constituency’s village-based and personality-driven political landscape through its candidate’s grassroots connect and issue-based campaigning.
“Koridang is rural politics, but our candidate T Chalukumba Ao is contesting for the fourth time. He is connected with the people and has been working with them. We have an agenda and manifesto,” Ulaka said.
He went on to sharply criticise the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly in relation to minority communities.
“What BJP is doing to the country, especially towards minorities, is something we want to highlight to the villages and the people. It is going to impact them eventually,” Ulaka said.
Referring specifically to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act framework, he added, “The new FCRA bill will empower the government to take over minority hospitals and schools which have contributions from foreign remittances. This is a kind of bill attacking the community, institutions and minorities.”
On whether these issues would translate into votes, Ulaka framed the question in terms of constitutional rights. “It’s your right to practice your religion and if that doesn’t impact you and you don’t want to vote for that, I don’t think anything else is there which is important,” he said.
He also invoked Article 371A, attributing it to Jawaharlal Nehru, and linked the bye-election to broader concerns of rights, governance, and accountability.
Highlighting state-level issues, Ulaka pointed to unemployment, corruption, and the absence of an opposition in Nagaland. “If Chalukumba enters the Assembly, we will finally have at least one opposition voice to raise questions and hold the treasury bench accountable. Otherwise, they will continue to act without checks,” he said.
Describing the contest as significant, Ulaka added, “This election will be a victory of secularism, brotherhood, plurality in the country. It will be a victory of winning election by not involving that kind of money which the BJP is using.”
The campaign was led by senior leaders including S. Supongmeren Jamir, Nagaland MP and NPCC president; Jaydev Jena, former MLA from Odisha; K Meghachandra Singh, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Manipur; NPCC Working President C Apok Jamir; and senior party officials.
The events unfolded against the backdrop of reported pre-poll clashes in Longkhum and Mangmetong earlier in the day.
Later, the Congress delegation paid floral tributes at the memorial of late Imkongmeren in Longkhum.