Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) organised a state-level public rally under the slogan “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” at IMC Hall, Dimapur on Wednesday.
Congress party stated that objective of the rally was to raise public awareness about the “ongoing assaults on citizens’ electoral rights” and to demand accountability from those responsible for safeguarding the sanctity and neutrality of the electoral process in the country.
At the rally, several Congress leaders attacked and accused BJP-led government of “systematic voter fraud, misuse of central agencies, and weakening of democratic institutions”.
The rally was attended by leaders and workers from all 60 Assembly constituencies. Addressing the rally as special guest, AICC in-charge for Nagaland and Lok Sabha MP from Odisha, Saptagiri Sankar, recalled that Congress party in 2024 Lok Sabha election had carried out systematic and scientific campaign across the country, wherein party’s internal calculations had shown that BJP losing ground.
“When the counting day came, BJP won about 240 seats. With post-poll alliances, especially with Nitish Kumar, they managed to reach 290 seats. We were disappointed, but instead of being demoralised, we immediately started preparing for Maharashtra and Haryana elections,” he said. He, however, maintained that the outcome in the states again raised suspicions. He said the party could not believe the statistics.
Therefore, Sankar said the party had gone back to the roots and picked strategic Assembly constituencies, where a 20-member team worked for almost six months, checking each voter base including photographs.
Sankar said the results were startling as the party detected duplicate voters and huge numbers of voters registered under one household. He said there was a case where more than one lakh votes were misappropriated in one constituency.
He alleged that BJP was using such tactics as part of a long-term strategy. “When Modi administration says they will rule till 2047, this is how they plan to do it,” Sankar said.
Lok Sabha MP also slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for refusing to release CCTV footage of polling and electronically readable voter lists. He said that when the credibility of ECI was questioned, it was their responsibility to restore faith. However, Sankar said that instead of transparency, EC was hiding the data. He questioned why CCTV footages were taken if not meant for scrutiny.
On the upcoming Vice President’s election, he said the INDI bloc had consolidated behind a common candidate and expressed confidence that even leaders from BJP and non-BJP parties would vote for them.
Sankar also slammed the chief ministers of Assam and Nagaland, alleging that they were businessmen who cared little for the people. He condemned the recent incident where deputy chief minister Y. Patton allegedly insulted a journalist in public.
On the party’s political future in the state, Sankar expressed hope that Congress would be in government in 2028. “If Nagaland elected a Congress MP without even a single MLA in the NLA, there is no reason why we cannot form the next government,” he stated.
Meanwhile, delivering the presidential address, NPCC president, and Lok Sabha MP, S Supongmeren Jamirm, said that the rally was not just political but a movement to reclaim the most fundamental right of citizens. “The Constitution gives us the right to vote, which is supposed to be the sole authority of an individual. But under Modi’s regime, even this right is under threat,” he said.
Jamir also accused the Modi government of ignoring opposition demands for discussions in Parliament on ECI’s alleged manipulation.
NPCC also expressed confidence that Congress would return to power in Nagaland in 2028. He stated that the Congress High Command was sentimentally attached to Nagaland, and did not want the state to continue suffering.
Acknowledging the contributions of senior Congress, PCC members, and grassroots leaders, Jamir said NPCC cannot face the 2028 elections without their guidance.
He reminded the gathering that Congress has historically stood for secularism, inclusivity, and preservation of culture and tradition. Jamir said that the party’s struggle was not only against BJP’s policies, but also for protecting the very fabric of India’s democracy.
Delivering a short speech, AICC secretary and Nagaland in-charge, Christopher Tilak, reiterated that constitution without institutions did not mean anything. He reminded Dr. BR Ambedkar’s legacy in framing a document rooted in equality, liberty, and fraternity.
While several Western democracies had denied women the right to vote for decades, he said India under Ambedkar’s Constitution, ensured universal suffrage.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by NPCC working president, Khriedi Thennuo, and compered by NPYC secretary, Tsarili Jingru, and coordinator, SSS, Lito Awomi, and invocation was offered by Rev Thebemo Yanthan.
Highlights of the programme included special numbers by Sagarika Roy, and Yash and James Keps, while welcome address was delivered by NPCC vice president and organizing committee convener, Captain GK Zhimomi, and vote of thanks was by NPCC working president, C Apok Jamir.
Cong accuses Modi of being ‘autocratic’
Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUG 27 (NPN): All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Nagaland and Lok Sabha MP, Saptagiri Sankar, on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, branding him as “the most autocratic Prime Minister” and questioning his government’s failure to secure the country’s borders.
Addressing media persons at IMC Hall, Dimapur, Sankar alleged that the Modi government had been “stealing votes” and undermining democratic institutions such as the Election Commission, CBI and ED. He claimed that the BJP manipulated 70–80 seats in the last Lok Sabha elections and cautioned that similar electoral malpractice could be attempted in Nagaland if safeguards were not enforced.
He further accused BJP of influencing elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, and criticised the passage of a “draconian bill” in Parliament which, he alleged, empowered the government to arrest opposition chief ministers and remove them from office.
On Congress’s prospects, Sankar said the party, having recently won the Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland, was reorganising its state structure.
He informed that senior party leaders, including the Congress president, would soon visit Nagaland to strengthen its base.
Confident of a revival, Sankar asserted that Congress would form the government in Nagaland by 2028 and return to power at the Centre in 2029.
Meanwhile, NPCC president and Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir voiced concern over the Assam-Nagaland border issue in Wokha district, accusing neutral forces of negligence. He urged the state government to take proactive steps before Assam asserted its claims, and called for collective efforts with NGOs to address state issues.
On the RTI regarding Town Hall renovation expenditure, Supongmeren clarified that it was filed by the Dimapur District Congress Committee and assured that the matter was being pursued thoroughly.