NCP merges with BJP

In a major political development, three NCP legislators have merged with the BJP, the latter of which had one member- Paiwang Konyak, parliamentary secretary transport & comm.. and I&PR and the post-merger has raised the strength of the BJP to four in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Briefing media persons at a hurriedly organized press conference in his residence here Monday evening, leader of the NCP legislature Dr.T.M.Lotha, parliamentary secretary tourism, said three of the NCP legislators had also submitted necessary papers to the Speaker of the 12th NLA in this regard.
The three NCP legislators who have joined BJP included-Dr.T.M.Lotha(parliamentary secretary tourism), Imtilemba Sangtam and Mmhonlumo Kikon. The fourth NCP legislator, Khumo would consult his supporters before deciding to join them, said Dr.Lotha.
He said prior to the decision, NCP legislators held a series of consultations with the party organization, after which, a consensus was arrived to merge with the BJP in the “greater interest of the Nagas”.
Dr Lotha said the three decided to join the BJP in order to strengthen the DAN-III coalition government in view of the state needing more development in every aspect. He said with a BJP government at the Centre, joining the BJP would benefit the state in facilitating more and better development.
He said the Speaker of the NLA had accepted the necessary papers submitted by the three NCP legislators when they, along with BJP state unit president Dr.Chuba Ao met the Speaker Monday evening. Dr Lotha claimed that almost 90% of the NCP workers/supporters have also decided to join the BJP.
Dr Lotha also reiterated that the merger would not affect the DAN-III coalition since the BJP was a pre-poll partner while the NCP was a post-poll alliance partner. “We’ did not merge to destabilize the government but to strengthen the NPF led DAN government” he said.
 Imtilemba Sangtam who declined the post of chairman MARCOFED in the recent reshuffle, said in Nagaland defection was not new in Nagaland politics and that political parties were formed to form the government so as to deliver the goods to the people.
He said today elected members feel that whoever grabbed the opportunity, “flourishes and which helps the people”.
Imtilemba opined that for politicians, principles were mere decorations. He also said NCP party functionaries and frontal organizations have signed to merge with the BJP.
First-timer legislator Mmhonlumo Kikon said the official formalities of the merger was completed Monday evening itself , adding “ we are all BJP MLAs now”.
State BJP president Dr. Chuba Ao welcomed the trio on behalf of the party and said the move would strengthen the party. He also congratulated the trio for their wisdom in joining the BJP without any pre-condition.
Chuba described the merger as a ‘red letter day for the party and said “we had one, but now we have four” and expressed that the party would do better for the state.
Paiwang welcomes: Parliamentary secretary transport and communication and I&PR welcomed the three for joining the BJP. He was optimistic after the merger , the party would go a long way in strengthening the party and would deliver better goods to the people of Nagaland.
Earlier, an emergency meeting of NCP legislators, state office bearers along with the presidents of all frontal organizations and district president was held Monday at the residence of MLA Imtilemba Sangtam at Dimapur . The meeting unanimously resolved that the NCP unit would merge with the BJP en-bloc with immediate effect.
The meeting also resolved that the party members after the merger, would work together in unity in the BJP in order to strengthen the party in the state and the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It may be mentioned that both Imtilemba Sangtam(Longkhum Chare) and Dr. T. M. Lotha (Wokha) had won their seats in 2003 on BJP tickets when the party won seven seats. In 2008 BJP won two seats through Dr.Lotha (Wokha) and M.C.Konya (Wakching) but both later merged with the NPF. Mmhonlumo Kikon won Bhandari seat on NCP ticket in 2013.