Rio appeals to strengthen PDA government

Our Correspondent
Mima, Oct. 27 (EMN): Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, on Monday called upon the electorates of Mima village to strengthen his government by voting for the NDPP candidate Medo Yhokha. Mima village falls under 14-Southern Angami-I assembly constituency.

Citing various issues confronting the Naga society today, Rio asked for the votes of the villagers to increase the manpower in his government so that he could work for the betterment of Naga people. He acknowledged the Angami tribe for being the core strength of his chief ministership for the fourth tenure and urged the electorates from the village to continue to support him.

"I beg you to help me by helping Yhokha," he requested.

Rio stated that the delimitation process is in progress this time for a positive outcome, adding that districts having excess number of constituencies will be deducted while those with lesser constituencies would be increased according to the proper demarcation.

He also informed that the political settlement and the demand for a separate flag and constitution of the Nagas ‘are at a conclusion’.
"The government of India had recognised the unique history, culture and traditions of the Nagas," he said, adding that they are striving to bring peace, development and a secured future for the younger generation.

He therefore asked the people to empower the government, who would look into the welfare and affairs of the Nagas, by giving their votes to the NDPP candidate.

"Please support me by voting in favour of Yhokha for the prosperity of both the Angamis and the Nagas," he appealed to the electorates.

Rio also recalled the formation of the coalition government between NDPP and BJP in 2003 under the recommendation of the prime minister and the other central leaders. He shared how he stepped down from the position of MP to return to the state as the chief minister again on request by the Nagas ‘as there was lack of leadership in the state’.

He said that both the top leaders of NPF -- TR Zeliang and Shürhozelie Liezietsu -- became chief ministers "only once because of his absence and not with the mandate of the people".

According to Rio, the lack of leadership in the NPF subsequently 'resulted in the suspension of him when he was an MP, and later, KG Kenye,' who is a member of the Rajya Sabha, from party membership.

The chief minister refuted the claims made by Zeliang during an election campaign by the opposition on October 26 over the alleged failure to implement four-lane project stretching from Dimapur to the south zone of Kohima to connect the Imphal road.

Rio asserted it was through his proposal that the then prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had sanctioned more than INR 1,000 crore package for widening the Dimapur-Kohima road in 2003.

"Because of land issues, the development of the four-lane road was much delayed," he said while maintaining that the four-lane road has reached Sechu-Zubza. However, Rio said that various land-related problems had forced the project to be reduced to two-lane from bye-pass towards the state capital.

He further urged the electorates to support him and the PDA's candidate Yhokha to strengthen the government to strive for more transparency and equality in Nagaland.

Rio later held another campaign at Kigwema, the village of the candidate. Hosts of star campaigners for NDPP accompanied the chief minister and sought votes in favour of Yhokha.