NPF, NPP candidates fail to attend ‘common platform’ of Arkakong

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Feb. 14 (EMN): Out of four candidates from  22nd Arkakong assembly constituency (AC) only two candidates turned up to share the stage that was organised by the Langpangkong Kaketshir Mungdang-Clean Election  Campaign Committee (LKM-CECC) at Changtongya town on Wed. in Mokokchung.

The two candidates who spoke about their vision and agenda to the electorate were Mayang Lima of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)  and K Temjen Jamir, an independent candidate.

Former advisor Nuklutoshi of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Imnatiba of the National People’s Party failed to turn up for the event at which stakeholders from all the villages and towns under the constituency attended.

his address, K Temjen Jamir passionately declared that he was contesting the elections to fight corruption and ‘social evils both politically and socially.’ Jamir, the editor of the  Ao vernacular newspaper Tir Yimyim, said that there were leaders who contest elections for personal gain rather than to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

are many leaders who are not concerned for the common people plying the dusty pathetic roads, hospitals without proper medicines, schools without proper infrastructure…therefore it is not a political fight but a fight to address and voice out the people’s problems,” Jamir asserted.

that there was a huge gap between the people in power and the common people,  Jamir assured the people that he wanted to bridge the gap between the two by raising people’s grievances both in the assembly and outside of it. He wondered why people ‘talk about bringing change but they do not change.’ He challenged that voters to take the election as a spiritual war to bring change.

Jamir vowed to the electorate ‘to fight for a clean government for which youths will not have to bow down their heads when asked what they do for a living.’

Also, Mayang Lima from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, who hails from Chuchuyimlang village claimed that he was contesting in the election to fulfil the ‘rights of the people’ which he said were rightfully theirs to claim. The retired judge asserted that the right to ask the government for quality education, better hospitals, and connectivity is people’s right and that he was determined to fulfil said rights.

Lima maintained that he wants to find a solution for ‘job hungry youths’ in Nagaland. “I aspire to give a vision to the youths that their future is not dark,” he said in his appeal to the young.

‘LKMCECC cannot  guarantee truant candidates’ promises’

At a  press conference that was conducted after the Town Hall meeting, LKMCECC member Limaakun informed that the “LKMCECC cannot guarantee the promises made by the absentee candidates in their various campaigns since they have signed the LKMCECC common platform speech pledge.”

Convener Bendang expressed regret that the two candidates did not turn up to take the opportunity to speak about their vision to the electorate.

The organisation felt that there ‘might be loopholes’ but maintained that the Clean Election campaign would continue until its goals are achieved.