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Leaders of the NDPP pose for a group photograph after the meeting at the Mokokchung town hall on Saturday.[/caption]
Our correspondent
Mokokchung, Nov. 4 (EMN): Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) President Chingwang Konyak has said that the present NPF government was the 'worst' in the history of Nagaland to come to power.
Speaking at the first ever consultative meeting of the newly floated political party, at the Mokokchung town hall – attended by nearly a thousand people comprising party workers, civil society leaders and members of the public – he said that under the present government roads have become worse while rampant corruption goes on even in the open and that the administrations were in shambles 'due to failure and lack of leadership.'
Chingwang said that the present elected legislators have already lost their credibility. He vowed that if elected to power, the NDPP would bring stability and positive change to the people as the party was 'founded with the principle to bring transparency and accountability to the people.'
He said the party believes in value-based politics. He also said that he party was firm to uphold and promote gender equality in the party working system and other areas. He also added that the party was committed to strengthen and facilitate the ongoing political problem between India and the Nagas for an early permanent solution.
Working president of NDPP, Alemtemshi Jamir in his address said that looking at the affairs of the present day government there was no sign of governance from the ‘oppositionless’ government. He also said that Nagas cannot expect much from an ‘oppositionless’ government who took only fifteen minutes of the NLA session to discuss and cogitate about welfare pertaining the people of the state.
“There is no ideology within the oppositionless legislators and hence there is no manifesto and programmes, no dreams and vision for the people and so NDPP was formed only after consultation with the common people as needed and desired by the people”, he added.
Concluding his speech, Jamir declared that NDPP will not make any promises but asked the people to simply come together and support the party to make ‘a good Nagaland together’ where there will be good roads, good and affordable medical facilities, good educational institutions and good basic amenities.
Secretary General NDPP, Abu Metha in his speech said that for the party, Mokokchung was considered the most important district not only because it sends the highest number of legislators to the assembly but for the history of producing many Naga luminaries who have contributed to the Naga society in every field.
Abu said Nagaland was perhaps at its lowest ebb and the writing on the wall is already clear that Nagas are fed up with the present government and voicing out for a change in leadership.
He said NDPP was founded after thorough consultation with the common masses with a commitment to bring change with integrity to the society while focusing to elevate the aspirations and life of the common people to a better standard.
Reflecting on the party motto, “By deeds, not words”, Abu gave a clarion call to the youths by stating that NDPP will provide a platform of hope to the youths and promised to promote them through their hard work and merit as the need of the hour in Naga society was young talents in all fields to frame value based policies action to take the state forward.
Stressing on the supposed communication gap between the general masses and the present legislators, Abu said that they have been elected with the mandate of the people but unfortunately they themselves have disconnected with the common people who voted for them. He also assured that NDPP will not be a party with a high command and vowed to do away with VIP culture.
“NDPP party will not promote VIP culture. It is the common people who are the real VIPs. We will oppose any political party who promote such VIP culture since it is not in the tradition and traits of the Nagas. We want every Naga citizen to be the stakeholder in the party and only the common people will be the high command of NDPP,” he said.
Vice president NDPP, Dr. Chumben Murry taking a dig at the present government said that an unstable government was equal to no government. He also said that the party is going to be people-centric and will stress more importance on youth and women empowerment.
Treasurer, NDPP Dr. John Murry in his short speech appealed to the gathering to act as the guardian of NDPP and take the party to greater heights for the betterment of Naga society.
Later, while answering to questions raised during the interactive session with the gathering pertaining to the party policy to accommodate the present sitting NLA legislators in the party fold, President Chingwang Konyak said that there was no thought or deliberations within the party still to take them aboard but he reminded that NDPP will not merge with another political party like the present government but will look forward for a coalition partner with likeminded political party to form a stable government if it does not get the majority the coming general election.
Replying to the query of the selection process of fielding party candidates and party manifesto, working President, Alemtemshi Jamir said the party will give chance to the common people to select their candidates to represent them and NDPP party; unlike other political parties who forced candidates selected by the party high command to represent them.
Regarding the party manifesto, Alemtemshi reminded that NDPP will publish the party manifesto only after a thorough consultative meeting was held in all nook and corners of Nagaland and after taking the advice of tribe hoho leaders and civil society members.