Nagaland BJP president, Visasolie Lhoungu on Saturday declared that the party would contest in all the 60 Assembly Constituencies in 2018 without any pre-poll alliance. Without naming any other political party, Lhoungu said “we all know the present political scenario in the state”, and it is time for the BJP to take over the government. Therefore, “BJP party is the only alternative for the next election”, he added.
Lhoungu claimed that BJP membership in the State had reached over 2 lakh. He said that number could be even higher the people joining the party at various levels in the districts, divisional units, mandals etc. daily, were taken into account. “This has shown that the people of Nagaland have accepted the BJP as an alternative”, Lhoungu said while felicitating the new party workers led by commissioner and secretary (retd) Ramongo Lotha at Hotel Saramati Dimapur.
He attributed the rise in enrolment into BJP to the programmes and policies implemented by BJP led by Prime Minister. Should this trend continue and if elections were held, BJP will form the next government in the State, he said.
Lhoungu also claimed that BJP is the only national party which was seriously working to bring development to the state. “Development is the main agenda of the party”, he added.
On the selection of the candidate for the assembly polls, he said that the candidates would be selected based on their prospects of winning. He also informed that the Centre was determined to form a BJP government in the state.
BJP national secretary and co-ordinator Northeast in-charge, Prashant Arora also excluded confidence that the BJP would form the next government in the state. Looking at the ongoing trend in the Uttar Pradesh civic polls where BJP won 14 out of the 16 seats, the party should also form the government in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, Ramongo Lotha thanked the BJP for giving him the privilege and opportunity to join the party. He said that he was not an “opportunist” but has been involved in politics since his school days and that he was not new to politics. Lotha also said that he was “attracted” by the constitution of the BJP which made him join the party. “BJP policies and programmes of the prime minister was good for the people”, he said but added that the party workers should ensure that the policies were implemented judiciously.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by vice-president, BJP state unit Tsasipi Sangtam and the welcomed address was delivered by BJP, state general secretary Jaangshillung Gonmei. Vote of thanks was delivered by convenor media cell, K. James Vizo.