Speculations come to end after meeting between Neiphiu Rio and Himanta Biswas Sarma in Kohima
BJP says it no longer has any truck with NPF; TR Zeliang advised to respect democracy and resign immediately
[caption id="attachment_166853" align="alignnone" width="550"]
Himanta Biswas Sarma and Neiphiu Rio addressing reporters on Mar. 5 in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Mar. 5 (EMN): Laying widespread speculations to rest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has on Mon. reaffirmed allegiance to its pre-poll alliance with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and has dismissed the possibility of extending support to former ally the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in forming a new government of Nagaland.
BJP leader and Assam’s Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who met with the NDPP's chief ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio in Kohima on Mon. to discuss the new government made it clear that the BJP was no longer in alliance with the NPF.
“Today I can officially say that we no longer have any truck with the NPF, there is no question of going back to NPF on forming of government,” Sarma told reporters after the meeting. He said that the BJP had decided to go with the NDPP and had contested the assembly election together to which the people gave them mandate.
“BJP cannot go back to NPF because we cannot betray the mandate of the people,” he said.
Evidently aware of news reports quoting Chief Minister TR Zeliang of being hopeful that the NPF and BJP would restore their 15 years old alliance, the BJP leader said he had made the party’s position clear to Zeliang. Sarma hoped that the chief minister being a senior leader of ‘this region,’ would respect constitutional property and resign.
“We have advised Mr. TR Zeliang that in respecting the best democratic norms, he should resign forthwith, because NDPP and BJP as a pre-poll alliance, we have the majority and we have also the support from our alliance partners like the JD (U) and NPP (Nationalist People's party). In that context, Mr. Zeliang as a senior leader of northeast and he had been chief minister for four years, so we want that democratic norms should be respected,” Sarma stated. Refusing to resign even after the verdict would turn democracy into dictatorship, the BJP leader said.
He mentioned that the BJP's national general secretary, Ram Madhav, had spoken to Zeliang on the same lines. “Politics goes on signals and we are sending enough signals to Zeliang that, ‘Look, at this stage we cannot be friends with NPF,’” said Sarma.
When asked if the BJP central leaders would be meeting Zeliang, Sarma replied in the negative saying that it would be improper at this juncture because that would send a ‘wrong signal’ to the people of Nagaland. He said that the central leaders won't refuse meeting ‘a former chief minister’ but if they meet with anyone from another party during the next two days speculations will rise and would create confusion.
When queried whether the BJP’s decision to part ways with the NPF in Nagaland would impact their alliance in Manipur, the BJP leader said that the Manipur NPF was a 'differently' registered party. “When NPF under Shürhozelie Liezietsu severed ties with BJP in Nagaland last year, it has not affected the government in Manipur,” he reminded and remarked that the party’s stated position was that it would continue to have alliance with the Manipur NPF.
“But in anyway, Manipur government stability is not at stake because we have a huge majority there,” Sarma added.
On the NPP’s support to NDPP-BJP, he said one of the two NPP elected members had already expressed support. One of the conclusions that was arrived at during the day’s meeting with the NDPP leaders where BJP general secretary in charge of northeast Ajay Jamwal was also present, was that the NDPP, in the larger context, would become a member of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Sarma said.
In regard to the NPP supporting the NDPP-BJP alliance, he said to be in touch with the NPP's national president Conrad Sangma. Sarma was optimistic that the latter would ‘definitely support’ the new formation in Nagaland as both the NDPP and the NPP were members of the NEDA now.
When queried whether the Naga political issue would be resolved during the new government’s tenure, Sarma pointed out that the Prime Minister Modi had made it clear during his visit to Nagaland that the national government’s agenda is to resolve the Naga political issue. With Rio at the helms of affairs in the state and Prime Minister Modi at Delhi, he said that a stable government can be assured. Only when there is a stable government, he said, challenges can be met.
During the meeting the BJP and the NDPP leaders were said to have discussed the ratio of representation in the new ministry, how they would ensure stability; finalization of an alliance with the JD (U) and others under the nomenclature People’s Democratic Alliance.
Other highlights of the meeting were not divulged.
“The details of our agreement that has been sealed, we will not be able to disclose at this moment. Let the shape take place and then you will come to know in a day or two,” said Neiphiu Rio.
Sources confirmed that the BJP has been alloted six cabinet seats including that of deputy chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on Mar. 8, it was informed.
