Kohima: Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi is Nagas’s “hope and aspiration” today. The state faces immense political and administrative challenges because Congress did nothing in 60 years. BJP candidate Kropol Vitsu stated this from Southern Angami II in Kohima district.
“I am trying to win a seat for the BJP which would have looked even unthinkable to contest a few months back. Our Kohima-Phek district region has 15 seats but for long this region was prohibited for the BJP as the general feeling was only regional party can survive here,” Vitsu told ‘Organiser’ in a brief interview as he launched his campaign for the day meeting a large number of voters from the villages.
But this time, the saffron party contested the seat, which shows that there is greater acceptability of the BJP in a general sense in Nagaland this year, unlike in 2018.
He blamed Congress for various problems confronting the state. He said, “We have administrative and political mess today in Nagaland because Congress did nothing in six decades….and if you want me to be candid, even the third front regimes like Janata Dal did not do anything substantial for our people.”
In this backdrop drop, Kropol Vitsu said, “Therefore, today, our people are reposing faith in the BJP and the leadership of Narendra Modi. The Nagas firmly believe only Prime Minister Modi can deliver Solution to the Naga insurgency issue and Peace”.
To a question, he said the issue of the Christians-Hindus divide is not in public debate in Nagaland this year despite efforts being made by the political detractors.
“Christianity or threats from Hindutva forces are not issues. In my constituency, the talk is development,” Kropol Vitsu said.
In fact, BJP candidate’s supporters in the constituency say the saffron party has a good base in the village as prominent saffron party leader and ex-president in the 1990s, N Rhetso, belonged to this village.
Another die-hard local BJP from Viswema village in the assembly segment is Vipio Rhetso.
He joined BJP in the 1990s and became Kohima district BJP Youth Wing president.
“You are right the BJP did not have much acceptance in the 1990s…but some of us believed the party has a strong nationalistic stance and so it will definitely come to power in India one day,” Rhetso said.
According to him and others in Viswema village, the scenario has changed a lot.
BJP flags flutter on the rooftop and other crucial locations in the village, and the saffron party candidate Kropol Vitsu, a retired Engineer from PWD, claims he has reasons to exude confidence about the victory. NCP has fielded sitting member Zale Neikha, who also hails from Viswema village. Moreover, the presence of another candidate Vipopal Kintso of JD-U, has made things more complex in this constituency.
Some Angami Naga villagers in this region are also concerned as a land dispute is slowly emerging in the area with Mao Nagas from the neighbouring state of Manipur.
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