The chiefs of the BJP’s 11 district units in Nagaland have opposed the seat-sharing agreement with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) ahead of the Assembly elections in the State.
The BJP on Saturday announced it would contest 20 of the 60 seats and the NDPP, led by former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, 40.
In a letter to BJP president Amit Shah, the presidents of the district units said the deal was sealed without considering the ground realities.
“We resent this agreement as the BJP has more winning candidates than the alliance partner. We should rather have gone with a friendly contest,” Myawang Konyak, the BJP’s Mon district president said.
Longleng district president B. Ajoy Phom said the party’s grassroots-level workers knew the political dynamics of Nagaland better. “We have asked the BJP chief to consider our prayer,” Krielie Angami, Kohima district president said.
The Naga People’s Front, a long-time National Democratic Alliance member, said the deal was a betrayal of trust. “It is not a nice feeling,” its president, Shurhozelie Liezietsu, told presspersons in Kohima.
An NPF spokesperson said the deal was contrary to the spirit of a meeting between Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang and Mr. Shah in New Delhi on January 25.
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