Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Feb. 15 (EMN): Two candidates from the 18th Chozuba constituency in Phek district have sought votes from the area’s electorate with promises of addressing the issue of unemployment. The candidates made this appeal during a Town Hall meeting—or, currently being so-termed “common platform” in Nagaland to mean an event where different political candidates can speak about their vision to the public.
The Town Hall meeting was conducted on Feb. 15 at the local ground in Chozuba town organized by Chakhesang Clean Election Movement (CCEM).
Dr. Chotisuh Sazo of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Kudecho Khamo of the Nationalist Democratic People’s Party (NDPP) are both from Phusachodu village.
In his address, Sazo talked about ‘the need’ for vocational training and small-scale industries that he said would provide employment to the youth.
‘We need a good college, private hospitals, vocational training institute that can sustain the livelihood of the community,’ he said. He maintained also that there is ‘a lot of natural resources in that can be tapped to create employment.’
Also observing that the Chakhesang community has yet to have an Indian Administrative Service officer, he said, ‘We need a coaching centres for the aspirant IAS and NCS (Nagaland Civil Service).’
Recalling the past four years of the 12th assembly, which saw many a hiccup, Sazo claimed that the political crises happened ‘because 26 new MLAs joined who lacked political maturity which that government stability was able to maintain.’ But, he asserted, the NPF government ‘has now thoroughly planned up’ to ‘be stable’ if they were to ‘run the government again.’
Similarly, Kudecho Khamo of the NDPP said he was contesting in the forthcoming elections to ‘bring overall development.’ The chairman of the Kohima-based Entrepreneurs Development Agency hoped that he would work for the welfare of the people.
As an entrepreneur himself, Khamo assured to ‘find a way for unemployed youths to get a job or start a business.’ If they are unable to do so, he said to provide projects ‘at the household level to earn their livelihood.’
Further, Khamo assured to ‘look into funds and schemes such local area development and NREGA scheme to boost the rural economy to bring benefits to the people.’
The convener of the Chakhesang Clean Election Movement, Dr. Küzhopoyo Tünyi, said that the purpose of the event was to instil a value for ‘clean,’ and fair elections. He urged the voters not to sell their votes but participate in ‘clean elections’ behaviour that would bring overall development. The gathering was urged to stick to the principle of ‘one man, one vote’ and to avoid proxy voting.
The convener said that the “common platform” was to ‘eradicate house to house campaign’ and provide a platform to help choose the ‘right’ candidate ‘by fair means.’ “NBCC (Nagaland Baptist Church Council), CCEM are asking you to participate but it all depends on you,” Tünyi added.
A community leader also said during the event that elections are meant to elect right candidates. The electorate was asked to refrain from violence and abuse. Rather, the gathering was told, elections should ensure more unity among them.
