Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Feb. 6 (EMN): Naga People's Front (NPF) president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has on Tue. categorically stated that the party has ‘no regrets’ over the way its relationship with the BJP had ended recently, with the latter inking a pre-poll pact with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
Talking about the present political scenario in the state during the launching of the NPF party’s manifesto for the ensuing assembly election at its central office in Kohima, Liezietsu said when the BJP approached NPF for seat-sharing, the latter conveyed it can concede 4-5 seats, but NDPP offered BJP 50% i.e., 30 seats. “BJP was tempted by that promise and they have taken decision to go along with NDPP. You have all seen that NDPP has already given 20 seats to BJP, one-third of the assembly seats. They (BJP) themselves walked away from us,” Liezietsu said.The NPF chief was not without bitterness though, as he reminded that during the time the DAN coalition in Nagaland was formed, BJP was still in opposition at the national level, and when BJP came to power, he said the NPF was happy that one of its alliance partners had taken up the reins of power at the national level.
He asserted that the Congress tried to uproot the BJP a number of times but it was the NPF that protected the BJP in the state. After all these, he alleged, BJP was behind the dismissal of his government in July 2017. Claiming that though he had no regrets, but since BJP had treated the NPF ‘very badly’, the NPF had decided to part with them in 2017 .
He said the BJP leaders from Delhi had approached the NPF ‘again and again’ requesting the latter to review its decision. Therefore, he said on Jan. 23, the NPF CEC decided that after reconciliation in the party, and also to create a congenial atmosphere for the ongoing political dialogue between the government of India and Naga national workers for political solution, it was necessary to review the matter and resolved to maintain the earlier status with the BJP.
Now with the BJP ditching the NPF for NDPP, Liezietsu termed it ‘a blessing in disguise’ as it opens the way for the NPF to speak more freely. Taking a religious stand he said, “India is a secular state, and we will be very careful not to do or say anything against other people and other religion, but Nagaland being a Christian state, we will commit to the people that we will protect our Christian faith”.
Expressing confidence that the NPF will form the government again, Liezietsu informed that the party would try to accommodate ‘smaller parties’ for a post-poll alliance.
Meanwhile, with the BJP and JD (U) out of DAN coalition, when queried if the NPF will continue carrying the same alliance nomenclature or another in government formation if it returned, MP Rajya Sabha and NPF secretary general, KG Kenye said the issue will be taken up after the election.
Earlier, Liezietsu termed the 2018 election manifesto of the party as one of its best and achievable manifestos since the inception of the party.
“It is not a mere wishlist but the points in it, we have considered them to be within our reach to implement, he said. We can commit to the people of Nagaland that we will do our best to implement what is assured in the manifesto,” he stated.
