Dimapur, February 18 (MExN): The Zunheboto District Congress Committee (ZDCC) reacts to the contentions of the Kohima unit of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) “pertaining to allegation of defection” of Congress Legislature Party leader Tokheho Yepthomi.” The Congress unit said in a rejoinder today that the NPF emerged only in 2002 from the erstwhile NPC party.
“The stone stepping journey of regional party entailed from mass defection from within UFN in the early 1960s, UDF in the 1970-80s, NPC in the 1990s and now Nagaland to Naga People’s Front. For that matter Shri Neiphiu Rio, the present chief minister himself originated from the UDF but won with Congress ticket in 1989 election, defected to NPC in 1990 then returned to Congress in 1992 and contested with the party ticket in 1993 and 1998.” “After exhausting full benefit as Minister of Road & Bridges” in the first tenure and as Minister of Home from 1998, he deserted Congress in November 2002 at the fag end of the tenure and eve of the election in 2002,” the committee said of the chief minister. “Maybe except Dr. Shurhozielie and the first timers, there is no member in the Council of Ministers who has not been a member or associated with Congress at certain point of their political career,” the committee reminded.
Just because the NPF is in ruling today, the ZDCC added, “They need not teach us the art of politics. Our advice is ‘keep your advice to yourself’, as we are doing what a responsible opposition party must do.”
