Senchumo NSN Lotha, President of the Janata Dal (United) Nagaland, announced his candidature for the 37-Tyui A/C today, putting Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister and BJP legislator, Y Patton, in for one of his most difficult electoral contests to date. This declaration comes only one day after Nagaland Janata Dal (United) General Secretary Kitoho S Rotokha declared his candidature for 5 Ghaspani II.
Speaking at the declaration ceremony, JD (U) national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh slammed the Central BJP administration for failing to honor its commitment to Nagaland in resolving and settling Naga political issues.
“BJP has no right to seek vote from Nagaland,” Singh stated, adding that “the people must not vote and support liars who assured the people of Nagaland with a false slogan, ‘election for solution’ in Nagaland State General election 2018.”
He accused the BJP leadership of failing to genuinely debate Naga’s demand for a solution for the past eight years.
“No BJP leader is talking about that Framework Agreement. In 2018, when Nagaland was in General election, the BJP gave a commitment to the people of Nagaland that this election is for solution of Nagaland issue but now five years has gone and the next election has come,” Singh said urging the people to ask the present MLA and the Deputy CM of the state, “where is the election for solution? What is the result of the election for solution which you gave in 2018?”
“I must appreciate the CM of this state who is concerned about the FA and the Nagaland peace. He is running from Delhi to Dimapur to Kohima but they are not listening. This is the attitude of the BJP. So, BJP has no right to ask for the vote from the people of Nagaland to whom they have betrayed,” Singh added.
Later at the program, Sanjay Kumar, Anil Hegde and Afaq Ahmad Khan in their short speeches shared their vision of the JD (U) party and their achievements. They shared that “Nagaland society and the Government will progress together by electing their JD (U) representative to power in the state.”
Lotha thanked the JD (U)’s party officials and committed to preserve the party’s beliefs. He pledged to the assembled members that he would complete his responsibilities to deliver maximum development to the 37 Tyui voters.
Also read: What would JD (U) win in Nagaland mean for Lok Sabha 2024?
Lotha is also the National Secretary of the JD (U), the Chairman of the party’s North-East Co-coordinator Council.
The stakes are high for Patton, since important leaders of the BJP under 37 Tyui A/C resigned from their respective posts and party memberships last week, citing “people’s great desire for change” and sources claim that the resigned members have vowed to support Senchumo (NSN) Lotha.
Earlier, Yanthungo Kikon, the then president of the BJP Wokha district unit, resigned in October, claiming that the Dy. CM has become “arrogant and inaccessible.” However, early this month, Patton joined forces with former MLA Yankithung Yanthan and his supporters.
According to sources, this will be the most difficult election for Patton in his political career, with many observers believing that NSN Lotha will win the seat this time.