Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 12 (EMN): Following the defection of its 21 legislators to the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is now resolved to look at the feasibility of forging an alliance with any ‘people-friendly’ political party(s) in the state for the coming assembly elections scheduled to be held early next year.
This was arrived at during the emergency meeting of the Central Executive Council held at the party’s Central Office headquarters in Kohima on Thursday.
Towards this, the house endorsed the NPF party chief and party leader of the legislature wing to work out the possibilities.
The party also re-affirmed its earlier stand on the Naga political issue and urged the Government of India to bring an honorable, acceptable, and inclusive solution at the earliest.
During the “threadbare” discussion, the house endorsed the party president to undertake restructuring and strengthening measures in the party working system at all levels.
“It felt the necessity of an Amendment of the existing party Constitution and recommended the party President to appoint Constitutional Amendment committee members,” the house resolved.
It also lauded the four remaining party MLAs for displaying “matured political leadership acumen in safeguarding the image and aspiration of the Naga people when others chose to betray the trust of the party and the electorates”.
Responding to the recent according of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) co-chairman post, ‘the rank and status of cabinet minister’, to the leader of NPF Legislature Party Kuzholuzo Nienu by the state government, the party said it “deserves better”.
Meanwhile, it appreciated Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for including all the four NPF legislators in the core committee on Naga political issue and for appointing Nienu as co-chairman of the UDA.
“However, the house felt that the party leader deserves better position in UDA as agreed earlier to be an equal partner in the decision-making,” read the party’s resolution.
NPF Secretary General, Achumbemo Kikon also remarked that the position of co-chairman is “short of what the party has asked for”. While welcoming the development, ‘it does not mean we settle with that’, he went on to add.
NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, in his address, said that the defection of 21 NPF MLAs to NDPP on April 29 was “not a surprise” to them but “may be more of a surprise to NDPP”.
He admitted that the “21 friends” leaving NPF “abruptly”, led by some professionals, is only a momentary setback and will not remain long.
‘Some members from NPF were said to have been making continuous attempts to move away from NPF a long time back without success,’ he added.
With regard to the defected NPF MLAs blaming the party organisation and its chief, Liezietsu replied: “Whatever may be their explanation, they have no justification. They might have been doing it as a face- saving device.”
“Past history tells us that defection marks cannot be erased. Defection is always the result of ambition. I will not criticise or blame anybody for it but for me, I prefer to live in a Naga thatched house built on rock than a mansion whose foundation is built on shifting sand,” he added.
He also assured the party leaders that they would not rest but work hard to improve and expand the size of the party “with good materials”; adding that they have “abundant good local materials readily available for the building (of the party)”.
“Defection does not cover only MLAs but defections of party leaders are on equal footing. Many defections have been taking place and some more may follow. But we have to take it as a normal move as it has happened in the past many times.
“Those who want to go away with their masters, we are sorry but we cannot stop them. We only want the dust to settle down early. Now that they have gone on their own as expected, we will take it to be good riddance,” Liezietsu said.
“NPF is now a disease-free party. From now on, we will be able to move forward with accurate Mathematics. Any single step we gain, we will start counting it to be a permanent asset for us. Therefore, we will move forward with full trust among the leaders. In doing so, I want to trust myself first and I want to trust all of you,” the party chief said.
“Our number may be small now but with this 'trust' we can start climbing the ladder one step after another without having any doubt in our mind but trusting one another.
“Many political parties in the country organised themselves without principle but for an immediate gain of money and power. Such political parties become short-lived because they have no roots. In Nagaland state, many such political parties came up from time to time but all disappeared again. As for NPF, we will continue our political journey to work and to assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo - Naga political issue,” he continued.
NPF President also lauded the Rising People's Party (RPP) at the CEM meeting.
“In Nagaland State, another regional party is now in the making under the name and style 'Rising People's Party'. It is hoped that this party will prove itself worthy of its name to the people of Nagaland in due course of time,” he said.
He stated that the stand of the regional political parties to protect the interest of the people in the region is laudable.
“India is a big country. The greatness of India lies in unity in diversity. Our party stands for that unity in diversity. Let us be very clear of the purpose and principle on which we stand,” he added.
Considering the upcoming state assembly election and defection of 21 NPF MLAs to NDPP, Leader of NPF Legislature Party Kuzholuzo Nienu said there is a need for the party to create “new friends” and “new alliances”.
‘What has happened is truly sad and hurt deep down. But let us not recall the bitter past as it will distract us and stop our work. Rather, the time has come for party workers to adopt the motto of 'work more and talk less,’ he said while urging the party workers to be serious about reforming the party.
There are certain steps that need to be taken to overcome the “catastrophe”, he said.
‘If we are to remain complacent, then things will move to another bigger catastrophe,’ he warned.
He gave a clarion call to all the party workers to be humble and change their attitude.
“The NPF will move on till it reaches its destination, that is, forming a government in 2023,” Nienu stated.
As for the 21 MLAs, he said they had defected for “self-survival” and “ran away” from the problem, especially when faced with financial problems. But the remaining ones stood their ground and overcame those challenges, he said while advising all to be strong and start working for the uplift of the party.
“As leaders, when faced with problems, they must solve them. Because, when leaders don’t address them, the problem becomes the leaders and finally the leaders will become the problem,” he said.
President of NPF Manipur state unit and Minister Awangbow Newmai said NPF as a party has earned the people’s trust in Manipur.
He said that the Manipur unit chose the NPF because it believed in this platform.
According to him, NPF is a platform where one can address grievances and enjoy the freedom to express one’s feelings.
‘It is not about the number of people but it is the principle that we can carry forward the party,’ he said while assuring that MSU will not break away but extend full support, come what may.