Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Feb. 18 (EMN): The chief ministerial candidate of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Neiphiu Rio has appealed to the Naga people to lend to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda in order to take Nagaland to greater heights.
Saying that the Naga people had wasted four precious years of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) govt. that was during 2014-2017, Rio asserted that the Naga people 'should catch the bus this time' to 'get along with the govt. at the centre.'
Rio said this during a political campaign for the NDPP's candidate to the 15th Southern Angami assembly constituency Zale Neikha, at Viswema village council hall.
“Our inability to form a stable government here in the state has hindered many development activities. TR had an opposition-less government as chief minister, but his incapable leadership and the inability to lead the Nagas has resulted in making the public becoming his opposition,” Rio said. He was of the view that many legislators of the 12th assembly were at the receiving end because of TR’s poor leadership.
The three-time chief minister also iterated that the NDPP-BJP alliance will be forming the government this time. To this, he said that the central government trusted his leadership and therefore extended their alliance with the newly-formed NDPP rather than shifting their allegiance to the Naga People's Front (NPF).
On the NDPP-BJP alliance, he made it clear that there was no point that the Christian faith would be threatened. Rather, he said that the NDPP would 'defend the Christian faith for all times to come.'
“The NPF has been in alliance with the BJP for the last 15 years under the DAN govt. Likewise, the NDPP-BJP alliance will work to bring a stable government. Only when the government is stable, there will be development,” he said. Rio mentioned that the NPF had also tried its best to forge an alliance with the BJP, adding that they (TR and Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu) had failed in their attempt. “This was because the central leaders do not trust their leadership anymore,” he added.
Rio clarified also that no political party—be it NDPP, NPF, BJP or Congress—should be regarded as a political party with attachment to any religion. “All political parties are formed with development as its top agenda,” he said.
“Instead of worrying about political alliances, what concerns me more is weak leadership. Without quality leadership, we will experience a period of what we have seen during the past four years,” he stated.
On his return to state politics, Rio thanked the Naga people for placing their trust in his leadership. He expressed hope that the Naga people would vote for the NDPP-BJP alliance to power.
For the voters of the 15th Southern Angami assembly constituency, he sought their support and requested them to elect the NDPP's candidate Neikha so that they also can become part of the government formation in the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Others who spoke during the function were former legislators Dr. Neiphrezo, NDPP candidate Zale Neikha; and Dr. Atha Vizol and Vilahosa Luho. Earlier, Rio addressed a similar function for the same candidate at Kidima village.
