DIMAPUR, MAY 7 (MExN): In a major boost to the state Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which has been trying to regain strength after its two legislators joined the ruling NPF on January 12, 2011, the Nagaland unit of Socialist Janata Party (SJP) has resigned en-bloc, dissolved its party and merged with the NCP.
Addressing the press at its office in Dimapur on Monday, NCP President Neiba Ndang said the SJP members expressed loss of confidence upon their own leadership and strongly believed in the ideology of the NCP which formulates programmes and policies that could directly benefit the people. “Having no confidence in their party, they decided to quit and join NCP,” Ndang said.
He said the former SJP members expressed faith in the NCP’s principle of making the voice of the people its command and acquiring strength from the grassroots.
Ndang also said one of the main reasons for the merger was that the dissolved SJP party members looked upon NCP general secretary, P.A. Sangma, as a man of high stature, who despite being a tribal man from Northeast has become a national figure. “He is easily available for all purposes and people can ventilate their problems to him,” Ndang spoke of Sangma.
Stating that NE people were a forgotten people, he said Sangma was paying full attention to the problems in the region. He said Sangma was meeting various leaders at the centre on the issue of murders and various other discriminatory cases against NE people. With the NCP’s slogan of bringing change in Nagaland, Ndang claimed that all those individuals and groups who share similar views and opinions have started joining NCP to bring change and build a new Nagaland.
Asked to elaborate on the ‘new Nagaland,’ he said the party was for full democracy and to let the people live peacefully with full justice.
“We stand for democratic secular society, we don’t want to run the affairs of the state with dictatorial attitude. We have to bring back democracy where everyone can have their due share of rights and privileges,” the NCP president asserted.
Resigned SJP members said they have “trust in the NCP leadership.” Nagaland SJP was formed on March 19, 2009.
SJP resolution
A resolution signed by the SJP office bearers and its unit presidents stated that the state party of the four districts; Tuensang, Longleng, Mon and Peren had “dissolved/resigned en-bloc and merged with NCP ... during an emergency meeting held at Dimapur on May 7, 2012.” The resolution also stated that “any bonafide members going against the mandate of party principle and higher up instruction during the forthcoming post would be terminated.” Further, the party resolved to fight and work for overall growth and development of the “benefit/gain all times to come.”
The resolution was jointly signed by SJP president, Jolling; VP C. Meren Lkr; general secretary T. Kiutan and other unit presidents and youth wing president.
