Dimapur, July 8 (MExN): The Nagaland unit of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) today termed “unfortunate” the support of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee over PA Sangma. The BJP explained that “we live in NE” and have common issues which “could have been resolved” by supporting National Democratic Alliance nominee PA Sangma.
President of the Nagaland BJP unit M Chuba Ao issued a press release today expressing ‘surprise.’ “Nagaland is the only state in North East which is ruled by a so called quasi non-Congress party under the leadership of Shri. Neiphiu Rio. People of the NE have great respect for him as a NE leader. But it is a mockery to the people of entire NE because of the support committed by the NPF party to the UPA presidential nominee Shri. Pranab Mukherjee,” the BJP president said.
Ao said to have “learned” that the NPF is supporting Mukherjee that is “issue based” but the same NPF is “supporting the UPA government unconditionally.” The people are utterly confused, the BJP reminded about what is “issue based” and what “unconditional” support is.
“It is very unfortunate to know Shri. Neiphiu Rio’s decision to support the UPA nominee Pranab da. We live in NE and thus have many common issues which could have been resolved by supporting the NDA presidential nominee Shri. P.A. Sangma. Shri. P.A. Sangma being from NE and a tribal himself as a president could make a clear and genuine stand on the tribal issues in India.”
The BJP has stated that the presidential election is not a political issue of north east rather a “common issue of NE oneness.” The BJP has appealed to all the legislators irrespective of party to support PA Sangma as “NE tribal presidential candidate.”
