Kohima:The Nagaland state unit of the BJP on Monday stated that ‘there is a definite trust deficit between the BJP and the present Naga Peoples Front (NPF) leadership’ and that the BJP is not blind to the manner in which the NPF is functioning and treating the BJP.
In a press statement issued by the BJP Nagaland President Dr. M. Chuba Ao said that the relationship between the two alliance partners has been ‘strained’ in the ‘aftermath of the disqualification of BJP MLAs and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.’ It further stated that the party ‘cannot be undermined and the failure of the NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie and the Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang to manage the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition and the DAN does not exist in reality,’ it added.
Recalling that the two parties had been ‘sailing smoothly in a healthy manner’ since 2003, the Nagaland state BJP unit however lamented that after the 2014 parliamentary elections, the ‘bullying nature of the NPF has adversely affected the DAN alliance.’ ‘DAN seems to exist only in paper and not in spirit or reality,’ he said. In the change of guard, the BJP informed that it had expected its MLA to be inducted in the DAN Cabinet of Minister, which it stated was ‘denied’ despite the BJP coming to power at the Center.
As a result, it stated that the lone MP from Nagaland was ‘denied a Cabinet berth in the Union Government,’ which according to the BJP was a ‘great loss to Nagaland and the entire North Eastern Region.
‘This was followed by the disqualification of three BJP MLAs, who had merged with the party from the NCP. Terming the ‘harassment’ meted out to its MLAs as ‘premeditated and sheer arrogance,’ the BJP further stated that the NPF had ‘inducted NCP members into the Government without any clearance of the DAN Consultative Committee or approval of its alliance partners.
‘ It added that no DAN meeting had been held and no consultation was carried out with the BJP for the bye- elections to the 11 Northern Angami -II Assembly Constituency. This had resulted in a contest between the two alliance partners, which the BJP stated was ‘unfortunate’ and further strained the relationship.
He said that the NPF leadership seems to be in fear of the grounds being gained by the BJP and therefore it is showing its arrogance and trying to sideline the BJP.
The recent bye-election, it stated, ‘is an indication of this fact as the margin of victory was much below the expectation of the NPF.’ Calling for appropriate measures to be taken the Nagaland BJP cautioned that it would undertake a ‘serious course of action’ and intimate the issue to the BJP Central Parliamentary Board. (UNI)
