Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, SEP 10 (NPN): Six BJP councillors of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) have expressed disappointment with the state BJP leadership, alleging that they have been given “step-motherly treatment” despite being elected more than two years ago.
Interacting with Nagaland Post at their newly designated office on Thursday, the councillors said they had contested the DMC elections on BJP tickets with faith in the national party, but were disappointed that the party leadership had not done enough to ensure their accommodation in the DMC set-up. The councillors pointed out that since BJP and NPF are alliance partners in the state, the BJP leadership should have taken up their case and fought for the elected BJP councillors to be accommodated in the council set-up.
They lamented that despite several assurances from BJP legislators and party leaders, the matter had yet to be resolved, with no concrete outcome emerging.
The councillors said their tenure was now nearing its end, while they continued to remain without a meaningful role in DMC administration. They said the situation had left them feeling “like orphans”, particularly as elected representatives were unable to effectively serve the public who had voted for them.
They maintained that their objective in entering electoral politics was not to earn money but to serve the public, and expressed sadness that despite being elected, they were unable to discharge their responsibilities in the manner they had intended.
The six BJP councillors are from DMC Wards 22, 4, 6, 5 and 8, representing Dimapur-I Assembly Constituency, and Ward 17, representing Dimapur-II Assembly Constituency.
The councillors further pointed out that they were provided a single designated office in August for all six BJP councillors, describing it as a recent development amid their prolonged wait for accommodation within the DMC set-up. They also informed that a memorandum had been submitted to the party’s national leadership, while expressing hope that state BJP legislators and the leadership would intervene at the earliest and address their grievances.