Our Correspondent
Kohima, August 31(EMN): While the people of the State is awaiting the forthcoming State Assembly elections scheduled in early part of 2018 to witness a positive change as the political parties of Nagaland has taken a pledge to make a joint effort to address the evils of elections, BJP senior political leader and minister of Cooperation, Relief & Rehabilitation, MARCOFED, Imtilemba Sangtam said, ‘as a candidate of BJP, I don’t want to talk about clean elections now.’
Throwing cold water over the NBCC’s clean election campaign to see a ‘free and credible election’ in the State, Sangtam has brought humiliation to BJP, which was part of the NBCC clean elections by pledging to work together with other political in addressing the evils of elections. BJP further agreed to abide to the objectives and guidelines laid down by the NBCC-CEC in the effort of realising a clean election process on June 22, 2017, at NBCC Platinum Hall, Kohima.Coming out vocally that he doesn’t want to talk about clean election at this point, Sangtam said it will be a limited talk now as according to him no votes without money.
To this effect, he openly declared that only after formation of the BJP government, he will talk about clean election. He also confessed that he has propagated against clean election in his constituency and added that ‘if we don’t offer money, BJP won’t come to power’ which was followed by cheering and applause from the party workers present.
At the same time, he also opined that clean election is for everyone and if the people have the true Christian principle and discipline, clean election is not required. However, he opined that it is the Christians in the State who have started the corruption of selling votes.
He also stated his unhappiness at the portfolios allocated to the BJP elected members in the present government stating ‘look at our portfolios and activities in the government. We are not given due respect.’
Sangtam also reiterated that only BJP can bring a corruption free government in the future and development in the State and not by any other parties. He added that BJP is the only alternative party for the people of the State.
