Dimapur Congress workers protest sudden DCC leadership change, questioning process behind removal of president Kutoho Chishi and appointment controversy.
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DIMAPUR — A sudden leadership change in the Dimapur District Congress Committee (DCC) has triggered unrest within party ranks, with workers questioning the process behind the removal of sitting president Kutoho Chishi and the appointment of Rajesh Kumar Sethi Jain.
Chishi, whose term was set to run till 2028, expressed surprise at the development, stating that his leadership had been recently reaffirmed during the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan review conducted by an AICC observer in February.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Dimapur on Wednesday, Chishi said he was elected as DCC president in 2022, with his appointment formally issued on September 3, 2023, for a five-year term.
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He alleged that the appointment circular naming Jain as the new president was circulated by Jain himself, raising questions over transparency. “Let the public and Congress supporters know the actual reason,” Chishi said, adding that the matter has been referred to the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) for clarification.
Backing Chishi, DCC general secretary Kumjimong said no other nominations were filed during the AICC observer’s visit and that the district unit had unanimously supported his leadership.
“Now we are scared to even work,” he said, terming the move unfair and appealing to party authorities to intervene. He added that the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan was meant to restructure party units by replacing inactive leaders through consultation with grassroots workers.
“But in Dimapur, no one contested against our president, and we were satisfied with his leadership,” he said.
DCC general secretary (media) Andrew Humtsoe also questioned the process, stating that the district unit was not consulted prior to Jain’s appointment.
“We had a selection and nomination process and names were sent to Delhi. But in Dimapur, the list came out without following that process,” he said, clarifying that their objection was to the procedure, not the party leadership.
Dimapur-II president P. Samuel Odyuo termed the removal “undemocratic” and questioned Jain’s eligibility, alleging that his name does not appear in the district’s January 2025 electoral roll.
Dimapur-I president Hovikhe Chophi echoed the concern, stating that Jain is associated with the Minority Cell but is not an active member of the district unit.
Minority department leader Md. Ahad Uddin Talukdar warned that the abrupt change could disrupt party functioning and urged the leadership to deliver a fair decision, suggesting that Chishi be allowed to continue his term.
Meanwhile, NSUI Nagaland president X. Chophika Sumi claimed that even the NPCC vice president in charge of Dimapur was unaware of the development.
“We will stand by proper procedure. If due process is not followed, we will support the current president,” he said.