Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 22 (EMN): A candidate from the 8th western Angami assembly constituency, Kevisekho Kruse, retired chief engineer of the Public Health Engineering department, launched his election campaign on Jan. 22 in the presence of workers at his private residence at Lerie colony in Kohima.
Kruse, who joined the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), said he will be contesting as an NDPP candidate in the forthcoming assembly elections scheduled on February 27. At present the 8-Western Angami AC has no representative to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly following the demise of former minister and speaker, Kiyanilie Peseyie last year.
Addressing a host of supporters, Kruse said he joined the NDPP so as to work under the leadership of NDPP chief ministerial candidate, Neiphiu Rio, who recently resigned from the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF). The campaign kick-off programme coincided with a meeting of the party office bearers of the constituency and the units.
Kruse, who is a fresh candidate for the 8-Western Angami A/C, expressed hope that the NDPP under the dynamic leadership of Neiphiu Rio, party president Chingwang Konyak and working president Alemtemshi Jamir would emerge as the only major regional party in the 13th NLA.
During the meeting, the party workers also resolved to rally around the dynamic leadership of the NDPP chief ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio so as to provide a stable government in the State and further to restore confidence in governance and to bring about all round development.
The meeting deliberated at length that the overall socio-economic and political scenario in Nagaland during the last four years under the regime of the NPF leadership have gone from bad to worse with the absence of Neiphiu Rio from the State politics.
The party workers also noted with concern that no development worth its name has taken place during the last four years which were plagued by instability in governance, defections and quarrels among the NPF leaders, adding that “development came to a standstill and the roads continue to deteriorate with millions of potholes on the roads throughout the State.”
Taking into account all these grievances, the party workers also endorsed the decision of Kruse who had joined NDPP to support the leadership of Neiphiu Rio, who is currently the lone Member of Parliament to Lok Sabha from the State.
“The present situation requires a strong chief minister and a stable government to securely facilitate the safe landing of a settlement that is apt to come as an outcome of the ongoing peace talks between the Nagas and the Government of India. Neiphiu Rio is considered by the GoI as the most dynamic and preferred leader to fill this political vacuum,” stated the resolution adopted during the meeting.
“The NDPP with its unpolluted party name and with many fresh capable candidates is looked upon as the political party that will be able to give hope to the younger generations by giving a new direction to the government beyond 2018,” the resolution further read.
Meanwhile, former candidate of the constituency, Vikehielie Victor, who has been assigned by the NPF to be the campaign director of the NPF 8th Western Angami A/C in the ensuing election, has resigned from the NPF to join NDPP in support of Kruse’s candidature.
Others who spoke at the meeting include Mhiesizokho Zinyü, Neivikuolie Nicholas Khatsü, chief agent, Vitsalhou Kesiezie, party president of the constituency, Seyiekhrielie Nagi and Akhrie Mor, among others.
