PDA coalition intact—Patton

Our Correspondent Kohima, Nov. 9 (EMN): Deputy chief minister Yanthungo Patton has rubbished talks that there were undercurrents of subversion in the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), of which the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are major partners. Patton, who is also the state BJP legislature party leader, asserted that his party was ‘solidly with the NDPP’ and that it would maintain their pre-poll alliance. “We aspire to complete the full (five-year) tenure with a stable government under the dynamic leadership of Neiphiu Rio. If possible, we (BJP) want to continue even in the next tenure,” Patton stated candidly while speaking as a guest at the NDPP’s third general convention at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on Thursday. He termed the NDPP de-recognition case a ploy of the opposition party, and assured that such move was not going to break the PDA. “Nothing will happen,” he stated, adding, “We are standing firm with the NDPP. Do not buy the rumours being sold by the opposition party in the ‘fish market’. Do not worry or take gossips and propaganda to heart,” he added. Patton reminded the gathering that the BJP and NDPP have an election commitment to the people to bring development and upliftment of the state economy and in order to fulfil those promises, they needed a strong and stable government as they have at the present disposal. He said all the PDA coalition partners were equally responsible to maintain strict inner party discipline to prevail above propaganda and to ensure that no misunderstanding arose amongst their respective members. Thursday’s NDPP general convention stood out as distinctive with the party’s alliance partners not only in attendance, but reaffirming loyalty to the coalition in the presence of thousands of party members. Janata Dal (United) minister G Kaito Aye, independent minister Tongpang Ozukum and the president of National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland Ato Yepthomi had also delivered solidarity messages during the event.