(Left) A Atsuba, (Center) A Epha, (Right) Geihwang Konyak
Atono Tsükrü Kense
Kohima | February 25
Disillusioned with governance by the current government, the ensuing general elections 2023 has several young ‘revolutionary contenders’ who are in the fray as ‘change agents’ in an attempt to bring a sense of order and transformation.
As reported by The Morung Express, there are 56 candidates (30.43%) candidates who are in the age group of 60 years and above and 79 (42.93%) belonging to 50 years and above.
Need young and connecting leader
30-year old Geihwang Konyak, the third youngest candidate from 43-Tapi AC from Janata Dal United (JDU) said “the power belongs to the people to elect the right leader. It’s their choice.”
Konyak who holds a Masters Degree in Political Science from Nagaland University, and is also a theologian from Clark Theological College, Mokokchung, told The Morung Express that the ‘ground reality and problems face by the people’ made him take a plunge into politics.
“I couldn’t remain silent when I see this injustice and rampant corruptions where the voice at the grassroots is being suppressed and manipulated,” he stated, adding that in this scenario, the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.
In the fray with three other contenders including the sitting MLA, Noke Wangnao, Konyak said, “our current representative in the assembly is not speaking our voice and not delivering justice to our people.”
“What we need is a change of guard with a young and connecting leader who can breach the existing generation gap,” he stated. “What we urgently need today is a young and connecting leader, one who can connect and reach out to the people in every nook and corner of the constituency to be their voice,” Konyak maintained.
His topmost priority is to build proper infrastructure, especially road connectivity as currently “not a single village in the constituency has been connected with a proper road.”
Konyak also cited lack of human resource development and absence of proper education facility in the area as an urgent requirement, which is why; he viewed that many young talented people have lost their ways. With only a government school which is not being run properly, he emphasised on the need to build a strong foundation in education for children.
Although he has been doing his best campaigning, Konyak admitted that “the rest will be decided by the people. The power now belongs to the people to either elect the right leader or money-monger leader. It is their choice.”
He advised the people to ‘choose wisely. Think not for today, but for tomorrow. Elect someone who can be your voice and take it to Kohima and to New Delhi. We have to speak now with our precious vote before it’s too late.”
Sustainable development need of the hour
29-year old, A Epha from Nyasa village from National People’s Party (NPP) and also contesting from 43 Tapi AC concurred with his opponent that the constituency needs a change in leadership.
“Our present MLA is the oldest in the NLA and for us too, and we need a change as per the current scenario. We need updated and upgraded leaders,” said Epha.
With a post graduate diploma in Rural Development from the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad, he said that with the acquired knowledge he wants to transform his constituency with many things that needs urgent intervention.
Talking about the sitting MLA, Epha viewed “what he is talking about is only road, electricity and water. That is not development.” Epha said that his priorities lie in upgrading the infrastructure which was not done by him.
He informed that there are still some villages under the constituency which do not have a single road, while the existing ones are in pathetic conditions, and some with no electricity and water supply.
Stressing on sustainable development, Epha also wants to create employment avenues by nurturing and providing skill development for self employment to both the educated and uneducated youth.
It was learnt that his father contested in the last general election and lost, and that he was proposed by the villagers as their candidate for the 2023 election. “They know my capability and experiences. I have gained the trust of my people for the works that I do,” said Epha.
“And If they need a drastic change, I want them to vote for me,” was the appeal from the young candidate.
For people’s rights
One of the youngest candidates, 26-year old T Atsuba of the Indian National Congress (INC) from 60 Pungro-Kiphire AC said he is in the election to fight for the rights of his people which have been long neglected.
A class-X passed from Hakkomute village, the last village of Nagaland along the Indo-Myanmar border, Atsuba is a social worker who will be fighting against S Kiusumew Yimchunger and T Yangseo Sangtam. Some of the major problems plaguing the constituency according to Atsuba are lack of road connectivity, health care facilities and educational institutions, which he said are his priority.
He also cited injustice and inequality, wide disparity of economic living conditions amongst the citizens and unemployment problems as factors that propelled him to stand up for the people of his constituency.
The other youngest candidates include T Thomas Konyak from Tizit; Akhavi N Zhimomi from Ghaspani-I and Er Meshenlo Kath from 9 Kohima Town all from INC.
