Staff Reporter
Against the backdrop of recent merger of 21 NPF legislators to NDPP, that led to speculations about the fate of the NDPP-BJP alliance, NDPP Monday reaffirmed its commitment to continue the 2018 alliance with BJP. Further NDPP media & communication committee also reaffirmed it will uphold the spirit of the alliance and adhere to their collective commitments during the recent election of the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Nagaland.
NDPP said that the party remained “unwavering in our pre-poll commitments and alliance with the BJP”. NDDP assured the people that the recent development did not in any way undermine “our continued alliance, but in fact, strengthens the alliance, providing more stability to our government.” NDPP also affirmed it will continue to remain steadfast “in our role as facilitators to the Indo-Naga talks”. The party expressed belief that with the “recent positive development”, their role has been further strengthened.
NDPP also welcomed the 21 legislators led by the former chief minister TR Zeliang, who joined the party on April 29, to support the “dynamic leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio”.
It also said the NPF MLAs joining NDPP enhanced the stability of the government and at the same time, facilitate growth and development of the State. It also said the increase in the number of MLAs (42) as well as well as the party rank and file would re-strengthen the leadership of the chief minister and party president Chingwang Konyak.
NPDD also said its doors will continue to remain open and would welcome anyone who wanted to join the party “under the banner of ‘Facta non Verba; Deeds not Words’!”
BJP to wait & watch
Meanwhile highly placed sources in the BJP have expressed their disappointment with the recent political developments which they said, had put a question mark over the NDPP-BJP alliance.
According to these sources, divesting of Roads & Bridges portfolio from BJP legislature party leader and deputy CM Y. Patton was unexpected. However, they said the next decision to strip Land Resource Department from BJP minister Paiwang Konyak and then re-allot to another BJP leader (Patton) was unwarranted. The sources said all these only put strain on the alliance.
On the “merger” issue, BJP sources said it was another indication that perhaps the NDPP wanted to marginalise BJP in the state which would have an adverse impact on the seat sharing formula of 40:20 that was at the core of the NDPP-BJP alliance.