Dimapur, March 21 (EMN): President of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has called upon the party rank and file and the candidates, who lost the recently concluded general elections, to stand firm with the party and urged for better understanding and cooperation while at the same time to strive more for the betterment of the party.
Addressing a consultative meeting of the NPF candidates, who lost the February 27 battle at the NPF Central office on March 21, Dr. Shürhozelie pointed out that they should be committed to “their supporters who gave their best for them during the electoral battle” recently and called for their re-affirmation towards the party.
“Even though we failed to reach the magic figure (31), the Naga people are with us,” Dr. Shürhozelie said adding that it is an opportunity for the party to be more serious and have more trust in each other. The NPF president also did not rule out the party failure to come back to power due to “complacency on the part of party functionaries and anti-incumbency” factors.
A press release issued by NPF Press Bureau has quoted Dr. Shürhozelie as stating that the previous 12th NLA faced one of the most crises in which the “developmental works were neglected and the crises were created by the elected members of the party themselves.” However, he stated that “most of those leaders who created havoc in the last Assembly are now in the new PDA government.”
He also recalled how NPF as far back as 1977 joined the Janata Party alliance, which was the conglomeration of all non-Congress political parties of the country.
“BJP also joined the Janata alliance during early 80’s and thus, in Nagaland the NPF also made an alliance with the BJP in 2003 and fought the elections successfully then,” he added.
However, Dr. Shürhozelie maintained that “the BJP after coming to power in Delhi has become more aggressive and their approach has changed drastically.”
The NPF President also reminded the gathering that due to the BJP’s “dictatorial and arrogant policies many of the NDA alliance at the Centre are walking away from it.”
During the meeting, after several NPF candidates who lost in the elections took turn and narrated their experiences, the party president assured them that their failures would be discussed at the highest level of the party.
The programme was chaired by KG Kenye, NPF secretary general and MP Rajya Sabha, while the invocation prayer was said by Dr. Kevingulie Khro. The welcome address was delivered by Tsumongo Ovung, vice president, and the vote of thanks was tendered by Pusazo Luruo, vice president.
