LJP Richard Humtsoe. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook)
Dimapur, October 4 (MExN): Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP-RV) leader S Richard Humtsoe has called for a clearly defined role and responsibility for the party in Nagaland’s "opposition-less government", asserting that political support should not be equated with political silence.
Humtsoe, National Secretary of LJP (RV), said the present political arrangement must be judged by its purpose, accountability and measurable outcomes, and questioned what the opposition-less government’s 'objective, vision and deliverable agend' was.
LJP (RV) is represented in the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly by Dr Sukhato A Sema, MLA and Leader of the LJP (RV) Legislature Party, and Naiba Konyak, MLA and Chief Whip. Both are listed as sitting MLAs of the party in the current Assembly. PRS Legislative Research.
“Political support cannot be treated as political silence,” Humtsoe said, according to a statement received here. He said the party was seeking neither favour nor ceremonial recognition, but “meaningful participation” and responsibility in the governance and development process. It is unclear whether the statement is a personal or party’s position.
Meanwhile, Humtsoe argued that political unity should translate into faster development, improved implementation of Central and State schemes, employment generation, infrastructure development, investment, agricultural and horticultural value addition, industrialisation, youth empowerment and stronger connectivity.
The LJP (RV) leader also sought clarity on the specific responsibility assigned to the party, the development or institutional portfolio entrusted to it, measurable objectives for its legislators and the mechanism through which it could contribute to policy implementation and development coordination.
“We are not asking merely for positions. We are asking for a mandate to deliver results for the people of Nagaland,” he stated.
Humtsoe said LJP (RV) was prepared to take up responsibilities relating to food processing and agro-based industries, youth employment and entrepreneurship, coordination of Central government schemes, investment and industrial development, rural infrastructure, Act East and Northeast development, and transparency and accountability in implementation.
The party has recently highlighted Nagaland’s opportunities under the Act East Policy, particularly in connectivity, cross-border trade and industrial development.
At its National Executive Meeting in New Delhi on August 10, Nagaland leaders, including Sukhato A Sema, Naiba Konyak and State President Viloto Pukhato, participated in discussions on these issues, he added.
Humtsoe said the remaining tenure of the present Assembly, which runs until 2028, should focus on measurable delivery rather than political management.
He further stressed that an opposition-less Assembly should not mean an absence of legislative scrutiny.
“Opposition-less does not mean accountability-less,” he said, adding that consensus should not become silence.
