Dimapur, May 18 (MExN): The Lotus has withered in Nagaland. The entire Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) executive members, office bearers and also two of its sitting MLAs have merged with the Nagaland People’s Front today after a meeting at Hotel Saramati. The BJP leaders asserted that they have taken the step ‘in the interest and welfare of the people of Nagaland’.
Formally declaring the merger, state BJP president Ato Yepthomi, who has been in the BJP for the past 20 years, informed media persons that the decision to merge with the NPF, was taken at a BJP executive meeting attended by all the executive members, office bearers and the two sitting BJP MLAs. He asserted that the decision to merge with the NPF was ‘to strengthen the hands of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and also in the interest of the people of Nagaland’.
Yepthomi also said it was unfortunate that the BJP-led NDA could not return to power in the recent elections. He reasoned that there would be a lot of discrimination against the people of Nagaland as there is a Congress-led UPA government at the centre. “So in the interest of the people of Nagaland and their welfare, we have decided to merge,” he said.
The state BJP also issued a formal declaration signed by the two sitting BJP MLAs Parliamentary Secretary Y Patton and Forest Minister MC Konyak, state BJP president Ato Yepthomi, Treasurer Basu Damini and two others. The statement declared that the BJP party in Nagaland shall be merged with the NPF “in the interest of safeguarding secularism and promoting development in the state of Nagaland consequent to the clear verdict given by the Indian electorate during the general election to the 15th Lok Sabha”.
Forest minister MC Konyak asserted that despite their faith and confidence in the national BJP leaders, they could not regain power for two times - 2004 and 2009 elections. There are compelling circumstances for the state BJP leaders deciding to merge with the NPF, he said.
“Successive failures to get the mandate of the people two times is too much for the party followers of small state like Nagaland which consist of 99% Christians,” said MC Konyak. “Today, what steps the state (BJP) party unit have taken is due to compelling circumstances which does not mean that we forgot the magnanimity of NDA leaders…we hope that the step taken by us due to compelling circumstances will be understood and appreciated by one and all,” Konyak said.
While the “compelling circumstances” was not clearly explained by the BJP leaders, it was implied to felicitate the DAN Government to join or support the central UPA Government. It is reported from different quarters that the DAN is keen on joining the UPA government at the centre. Even the BJP leaders when queried on this question, said if the merger of the BJP with the NPF can felicitate the DAN to join the UPA, “then it’s still better”. “…in politics there is no permanent barrier,” MC Konyak explained.
Interestingly, it is learned that the state chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his entourage which included ministers Imkong L Imchen and TR Zeliang are in Delhi on “official engagement”.
However, the CM’s press secretary, Abu Metha who was also at Hotel Saramati, denied that Rio and his camp are lobbying for the DAN to join the UPA. He however disclosed that there is every possibility for Rio and his team to meet central government leaders to “congratulate and felicitate them”. Nonetheless, Abu Metha, speaking as the NPF spokesperson, hailed the decision of the state BJP unit and expressed confidence that the move would bring more stability to the state government.
