Making its debut in Nagaland assembly elections, Jamui MP Chirag Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on Saturday has officially declared 19 candidates as its first list and has announced that the party will go solo in the upcoming Nagaland assembly polls.
LJP(RV) Parliamentary Committee state working president Viloto P has said that the second list of candidates is likely to be declared later. However, the party was quick to add that they will not field its candidates on the assembly seats where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates will be contesting.
“The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has decided to contest alone in the upcoming assembly elections in Nagaland. The party will not field its candidates on the assembly seats where Bharatiya Janata Party candidates will be contesting,” the official Twitter account of the party tweeted which was retweeted by the party president, Chirag Paswan, clearly flaunting his closeness with BJP leaders.
Earlier in the day, Chirag tweeted a list of 29 leaders and workers of JD(U) Nagaland who resigned from the party and joined Lok Janshakti giving a major blow to his arch-rival and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
“Hearty welcome and congratulations to all the comrades who have joined the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) except almost the entire state unit of Janata Dal United in the state of Nagaland,” Chirag tweeted.
The party inducted as many as 28 Nagaland state JD(U) leaders under the leadership of the party’s erstwhile secretary general Kitoho S Rotokha, who was earlier fielded by Nitish Kumar’s party to contest in the upcoming Nagaland Assembly elections.
State JD(U) secretaries Obed Yeptho, Tingsangai John Pamei, and Holuvi Awomi, Yuva JD (U) state president Anoto Swu and JD(U) Kohima district president S Nagi were among the prominent leaders who joined Chirag Paswan’s party in Kohima on Friday evening.
“I have full hope and faith that all of you will play an important role in taking the ideas and principles of the party to the masses,” Chirag said, welcoming the rebel JD (U) leaders and workers to his party.
“Lok Janshakti Party (RV) is committed to the proper development of Nagaland and the Naga issue,” Chirag added.
The shock comes amid Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s efforts to elevate the JD(U) to the status of a national party by gaining Assembly seats and increasing vote share outside of Bihar state.
How LJP can change the game for BJP
Among the 19 candidates that was announced by LJP today, MLA Azheto Zhimomi (Dimapur- III), Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change YM Yollow Konyak (42-Wakching A/C); former Speaker of Nagaland Assembly Chotishuh Sazo (18-Chozuba A/C) and MLA Yitachu (20-Meluri A/C) were some of those that ‘merged’ from NPF to NDPP last year but were denied tickets by the ruling NDDP.
“This is not the first time; this is the third time Rio has not given the ticket to me. It is politics and perhaps for his survival, he has done that. I do not mind. But, up to this extent, you should not betray,” a clearly upset Zhimomi has said.
Chirag Paswan, who has been cozying up to the BJP since Nitish Kumar dumped the NDA in August last year, was seen campaigning for BJP candidates in the Gopalganj and Mokama bye-polls on November 3.
Chirag, according to reports, accepted the invitation to campaign for BJP candidates after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. As a result, the announcement to “not field candidates on assembly seats where Bharatiya Janata Party candidates will be contesting” is significant.
The other candidates for LJP are: Viloto Pukhato (Dimapur-I), Y Vikheho Awomi (Dimapur-II), Kitoho S Rotokha (Ghaspani II), Er Levi Rengma (Tseminyu), Dr Sukhato A Sema (Pughoboto), Kevechutso Doulo (Chizami), Ghovishe Kiba (Zunheboto), Zheito Chophy (Satakha), Sulanthung H Lotha (Bhandari), Chingkai Konyak (Tehok), B. Bangtick Phom (Tamlu), L. Khumo Khiamniungan (Thonoknyu), R. Tohanba (Shamator Chessore) and S Kiusumew Yimchunger (Pungro Kiphire).
LJP spoils JD(U)’s third party opportunity
In a press conference today, Rajya Sabha MP Aneel Prasad Hegde stated that the JD(U) appreciates Rio’s significant effort to resolve the Naga political issue, and that the party values his work as Chief Minister.
“Since we are really appreciative of the Chief Minister’s work, if required, we will definitely,” Hegde said of a post-election alliance with Rio, adding, “also regarding that, Mr Lotha has been authorized to be part of the government even if BJP is also part of that… we are prepared to be in the government,” he said.
Furthermore, Hegde emphasized that the shambles in the party occurred only in one constituency, 5-Ghaspani-II, and that the party remains strong.
Nagaland JD(U) president NSN Lotha confidently added later that “BJP-NDPP will not get the figure they require to form the government and therefore, they will require the support of a third party, where the JD(U) will be the third largest party to support the next government.”
It is learnt that the JD(U) have so far confirmed 6 candidates for the upcoming election, with more expected to join, while the LJP has 20 candidates.
But, given that Lotha is up against BJP’s Yanthungo Patton in 37-Tyui A/C, the lotus party would be hesitant to support the JD(U) and would prefer the LJP, which has already declared a truce with the BJP. Meanwhile, some of the big names who were denied tickets by NDPP such as Azheto Zhimomi have joined the LJP and therefore, LJP-NDPP merger, if at all, seems significantly lower as compared to LJP-BJP.