Oath Taking ceremony for the 23 recently elected members to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), was held on Friday, at conference hall, Deputy Commissioner’s office (DC). The ceremony was attended by Advisor, Labor, Skill Development & Employment, and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, NDPP senior vice president (Central) & Dimapur in-charge, Charlie Sekhose, BJP state president, Benjamin Yeptho, and DMC administrator, W Manpai Phom, among others.
The oath taking was administered by DC Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang and conducted in accordance with Section 60A of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023. Following the oath-taking, election was conducted for the positions of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Council.
Addressing media fraternity after the meeting, Moatoshi Longkumer, who was also assigned the responsibility for assistance and coordination towards the formation of ULB, announced that Hukheto Yepthomi of Ward 15, was unanimously elected as the chairperson of DMC while Imlinaro Stephanie Ezung, of Ward 21, was also unanimously elected the deputy chairperson of DMC. Eight out of 23 newly elected DMC members are women while five are from NDPP and one each from BJP, NPP and an Independent.
DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi
Interacting the media after being elected as the chairperson of Dimapur Municipal Counicl, Hukheto Yepthomi reiterated that all elected members would sit together and discuss and prioritize problems needed to be addressed phase wise.
Asked on the first action plan of the 23 elected members under DMC, he replied that prime focus would be for improvement of drainage and road system. He however stated that these actions would be carried out in phase wise manner, after due consultation and financial assistance from the state government.
Yepthomi further maintained that all members would look and help each other, adding that all members would come together for the betterment of Dimapur.
He further pointed that just because the election was contested against each other, does not mean development would not be given to non-NDPP wards. “I will take the priority and discuss with the team to move forward and make Dimapur a better place”, he stated. Asked on the waste management and plastic ban, he stated that all decisions would be made in consultation with the elected members.
DMC Dy Chairperson Imlinaro Ezung
Newly elected deputy chairperson of DMC, Imlinaro S. Ezung asserted that all elected members are determined and focused on development of the Dimapur municipality by working hand in hand. She added that all members irrespective of party affiliation will have to sit down together and discuss what’s best for Dimapur city.
She further affirmed that her priorities will not be confined to the ward she represents but extend to the entire municipal wards under Dimapur city by working hand in hand with the chairman and entire council members and also sought active cooperation of public to work together. “All members are elected members. We will all have to work together hand in hand, and this was decided in the meeting as well”, she stated.
When asked on her victory of being the only woman candidate to win from a general ward under DMC, she attributed her victory to God’s blessing, whilst also expressing satisfaction of women representation in the decision-making body.