India, the largest democracy in the world gears up to conduct the biggest election in the world with over 96 crore eligible voters to elect 543 MP seats in India’s Lower House of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha which will determine India’s future. This massive vote count brings upon every single citizen of the country an even greater responsibility to vote for nation building and preserving the secular and democratic ethos of India. Such is the magnitude and importance of this election that every single vote shall count as though giving a new breath of life!
The current scenario in our state is an Opposition-less Government and the call for abstaining the 18th Lok Sabha elections by the ENPO has made our state the central focus for the battle of the lone Lok Sabha seat. Despite making all efforts to create a “thumping majority win” situation by the ruling State Government, the government of the day seems to be struggling to influence a major chunk of the vote bank in Nagaland. Every vote matters in a democratic election and the attitude to brush off lakhs of votes from Eastern Nagaland region by the Government simply because it failed to come to an agreement has been the dilly-dallying approach for the past many years revealing their incompetency and disinterest. But I, personally choose not to stay silent nor blind to the demands of the ENPO and the lakhs of people who had gone through a lot of inequalities and sufferings since attainment of Statehood in 1963.
The priorities that I have set if given an opportunity to serve as an elected MP is to prioritize the needs and aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland for a better future by fulfilling the demand for FNT (Frontier Nagaland Territory). My vision would be to bring and fulfill the political, financial and administrative autonomy as desired by the people of Eastern Nagaland within the state of Nagaland, the appointment of Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) equivalent to the rank of Chief Minister who shall directly report to the Governor’s Office and most importantly the FNT should be directly under Central Government funding monitored and supervised by the Government of India.
My representation as an elected Lok Sabha MP will not only be limited as a guarantor to the FNT but also as a guardian to any entity or factor that will threaten the socio-cultural, religious and political identity of the Eastern Nagas.
Special attention will be made in the Education and Health Sectors of Eastern Nagaland. As I quote Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, my personal interest will be to equip every child from Eastern Nagaland to be educated, qualified and also employable in different sectors within and beyond the state. The health sector calls for strengthening and looking into the existing challenges of Eastern Nagaland.
My hope and vision to fulfil this dream for the Eastern Nagas is; if only ENPO reconsiders their decision of abstaining from the upcoming elections and participate as a major player to elect the next MP to represent the Eastern Nagas who shall be capable to press upon the next Prime Minister of India in fulfilling the FNT demand.
Henceforth, I extend a clarion call upon the ENPO the most prestigious, powerful and dedicated organization of the Eastern Nagas to invest their faith and power of votes on a candidate like myself, who is neither influenced nor dictated by the ideology of any political party or with any obligation but only driven by the philosophy to facilitate equality and justice for all. Participating in the electoral process 2024 by the ENPO will be the “most historic and defining moment” to truly show the ‘’power and worth” of the Eastern people of Nagaland.
I therefore conclude saying that my connection with the Eastern Nagas goes long and strong since my wife is from Eastern Nagaland who I am proud and grateful and have been immensely blessed by our Almighty.
( HAYITHUNG BILL LOTHA )
Independent Candidate,
18th Lok Sabha Election Nagaland