But makes big impact. Fields lone woman candidate, almost ensures a win
BHARATIYA Janata Party (BJP) won one seat in Nagaland assembly elections held recently. The results were announced on February 28. The party had alliance with the NPF and JDU in the state. The JDU won one seat while Naga People’s Front (NPF) won 38 seats. All these three constituents contested election under the banner of Democratic Alliance for Nagaland (DAN). The BJP won the Tijit assembly seat. Shri P Paiwang Konyak of the party won the seat with a margin of about 3000 votes. The party had fielded 11 candidates in the state. The state went to polls on February 23. Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Neiphiu Rio was sworn in as the state’s chief minister for the third consecutive term on March 5.
According to Shri PB Acharya, BJP election incharge of Nagaland, the party won the polls on six point equity in development, equal treatment for all citizens, political empowerment of women, jobs to youth, detect, delete and deport the illegal migrants and remunerative prices for farmers and artisans.
The BJP had also fielded one female candidate, Smt Rakhila Laklumong from ENPO area of Tuensang Sadar II seat who was the lone woman candidate fielded by any political party. There were however 100 male candidates in the fray. The Congress had announced the candidature of one female candidate Smt Khegholi Awomi from Ghaspani I seat, but ditched her at the last moment by denying ticket. Apart from fielding one female candidate, the BJP had also extended support to the independent women candidate Dr Yangerla at 27 Mokokchung town constituency.
In a joint statement issued by state BJP president Shri M Chuba Ao, Shri PB Acharya and state BJP Mahila Morcha president Smt Rosy Yanthan, the BJP said that the post election scenario of Nagaland proves which political party has genuine concerns for the women. “By fielding a woman candidate the BJP has confirmed that the party is serious for 33 per cent reservation to women and respects women’s rights.”
The BJP called upon the NGOs, Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) and the right thinking members of the society to understand the mindset of other political parties who are fooling the people and refusing to empower women politically, inspite of the 74th Constitutional Amendment empowering 33 per cent reservation to women in all local bodies, which is mandatory for the states to implement. The mindset of the people has to be slowly changed to the present circumstances and the voice of the 50 per cent women voters of Nagaland be made to be heard, the statement said. The BJP assured that it would fight democratically to get 33 per cent reservation for women in all local bodies.
(FOC)
