Big setback for NDPP: Imkong L Imchen resigns, to contest upcoming polls on BJP ticket

Northeast Live had a telephonic conversation with Imkong L Imchen immediately after he decided to step down as an NDPP MLA.

REPORTED BY SARAH KONYAK

In what can be termed as a big setback for the NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) ahead of the assembly elections in Nagaland. One of the top NDPP leaders, Imkong L Imchen today quit the NDPP as an MLA, as he shot off his resignation letter to the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Northeast Live had a telephonic conversation with Imkong L Imchen immediately after he decided to step down as an NDPP MLA.

Imchen said, “this is not a serious issue but since morally I cant get elected from the NDPP, I am a NDPP bonafied MLA and then I am leaving the party, therefore I thought it is my moral obligation to leave the party and then also leave the membership of the House.”

When asked if it was true that he was going to join the Saffron Party (BJP), Imkong L Imchen said, “Of course I fully appreciate and support the program and the policies initiated by the BJP party under the leadership of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.”

When sought for more clarity on this, Imchen said, “Officially I have taken the membership from the BJP party and I have also resigned officially from the NDPP.”

Apart from this, Northeast Live also enquired if he was going to contest the ensuing elections from a BJP ticket. In this response, Imkong L Imchen said, “Correct. But I am thinking that the BJP ticket will be given or not but I think that I should be given a BJP ticket”

When asked, “Was any commitment given to You by the BJP?,” Imchen replied, “No No No so far nothing, No commitment nothing. But if they have to go by the winning candidates than they, it should come to me, that is what I believe.”

It may be mentioned that, 21 MLAs of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), in August last year had joined the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to form an opposition-less government, and merged with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). The 21 MLAs were led by former chief minister TR Zeliang, who was the NPF legislature party leader.

Imkong L Imchen, was also one of the 21 NPF MLAs to have merged with NDPP, for the sole objective to collectively push for an early solution to the protracted Naga political issue.

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