INC candidate Alem Jongshi Longkumer speaking at the “Common Platform” for candidates for the 26 Aonglenden AC Bye-election organized by Dilong Ward Yimten, Mokokchung, March 30. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | March 30
As electioneering for the 26 Aonglenden Assembly Constituency bye-election intensified, the Dilong ward authority in Mokokchung town organized a “common platform” for the candidates today at its Community Hall where candidates were given the opportunity to address the voters in the ward. Dilong Ward is one of the four wards in the urban areas along with Ungma, Settsü and Kubza villages that falls under the constituency.
With two candidates withdrawing their candidatures from the fray in a dramatic turn of events, NDPP’s Sharingain Longkumer and INC’s Alem Jongshi Longkumer were two candidates who participated in the “common platform” today. The candidates after a draw of lots were allowed to address the platform. Although there was no debate between the candidates, it was an opportunity for them to woo the voters by sharing their visions and objectives.
The younger of the two, Longkumer while addressing the platform as the first speaker mostly dwelled upon his declared “personal manifesto” which he had shared during his campaign kick-off at Ungma last week. To strife to bring change, to be the voice of the young generation in the state legislative assembly, to stand for youth and women empowerment were among other manifesto Longkumer addressed at the event.
INC candidate Longkumer, retired NCS officer exhibited maturity and espousing his own analysis of state politics, he said that electoral politics in Nagaland was “bipolar” in nature with sharp division between the “regional bloc” and the “national bloc” and added that he opted to contest with the Congress ticket as he upheld the principle and ideology of the party’s secularism as opposed to BJP’s communalism.
BJP, he said, would make India a Hindu State if elected to power again and legislate on making Hinduism the state religion. He argued that some of the state’s political leaders were misinterpreting the Citizenship Amendment Bill and misleading the Naga people. He added that CAB and Article 371(A) were two “totally different chapters” and that Nagaland would become “duly bound by law to issue ILP” to all those new citizens after CAB thereby destabilizing the demographics of Nagaland for all times at the peril of the indigenous populations losing their identities.
In this respect, he urged the people to make use of their “reasoning power” before deciding whom to vote. He also urged the people to come out and exercise their universal adult franchise on the polling day and added that people who do not exercise their right to vote do not have the right to criticize the government.
Apart from the party manifesto, the Congress candidate also outlined some of his “personal manifesto” which included a “fully equipped modern hospital” for an improved healthcare sector in Mokokchung. Education sector, skill development, infrastructure and economic development and social harmony were some of his other talking points.
Two representatives from each of the parties also delivered short speeches which was followed by a special prayer for both candidates by the MTBA associate pastor, Rev P Chuba Jamir.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Dilong Ward Yimten (Authority) decreed that “outsiders” will not be allowed to disrupt the polling process on Election Day and that Dilong Ward shall not be held responsible in the event of any untoward incident happening as fallout of interference by “outsiders.” He also made it clear that anti-social activities will be strictly prohibited.
In his concluding remarks, Dilong ward Chairman I Tia Soyah said that the eventual winner of the bye-election should ensure equitable development of the whole constituency.
