Dimapur, March 28 (MExN): Disappointed by the ‘bitter experience’ in the Kiphire-Pungro bye election held earlier this year, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has decided not to contest in upcoming polls in the 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency.
The 51-Noksen seat in the State had been vacant following the demise of the sitting Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Justice & Law, C M Chang on October 12 last year. The bye-election to the seat will be held on April 17.
“We have understood that people cannot stand on the issues and principles that they talk about and want. People have voted against their own faith on account of money and power,” party President K Therie said in a statement on Sunday.
Therie stated that the Congress party provides funds up to the limit on election expenditure set by the ECI and candidates are not expected to spend one rupee from their own account. “This is to enable elected Members as well as the defeated to be free from any liabilities after election,” he said, while adding that the party funds are for campaigning to make the people understand the visions of the party. We do not provide funds to buy votes for it is a crime and unlawful not only before the law of the land but before God, he maintained.
Therie also took a jibe at the state government which, according to him, “opposes implementation of political solution even after talks have concluded for Nagaland.” Despite this, he said that people would “vote for money and whoever can pay more,” and lamented that “there is no soul that can stand on issues and principles.”
On the other hand, the party president noted that the people are “tired” of regional parties and BJP in Nagaland, who have “finally exposed themselves that they are against stakeholders in securing political solution even after talks have concluded for Nagaland.” He also claimed that the nation is tired of Prime Minister Narendra Modi “lies” and accused Modi of selling off assets created by the Congress governments.
Therie maintained that the Congress is the only alternative in the nation as well as Nagaland and expressed hope that the day for Congress to “rebuild the past glory of our people and secure peaceful solution” would come sooner than expected.
