State BJP unit welcomes former president

Nagaland BJP unit Thursday welcomed its founding member and former state president Pius Lotha at a simple function held in its Head office, Super Market, Dimapur.
The welcome ceremony also coincided with the BJP’s membership drive for Dimapur district. Pius Lotha, earlier joined BJP sometime in September 1986. Later, he was made convenor with L Metna and Yanlong Konyak in 1987 and made state BJP president. In 1991 late NC Zeliang joined BJP and was made convenor with Pius as president.
An advocate by profession, Pius Lotha was also the former additional solicitor general, Nagaland.
Pius said he decided to rejoin active politics after seeing the overwhelming and dynamic performance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi particularly in economic development, where other leaders had failed to do so. He was optimistic that Nagaland would grow under the leadership of Modi.
By rejoining the BJP fold, Lotha said he would be involved in strengthening the organization. During BJP’s nascent stage in Nagaland, Lotha said many branded it as a “Hindu party”. He however, said such claims were “absolutely not true” and that , people would only want to join a progressive party. He also urged all likeminded people to join the BJP.
BJP unit president, Dr. M Chuba Ao and host of party workers including BJP Secretary (Organisation) and in-charge of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, Prasant Arora were present at the welcome ceremony.
Meanwhile, reacting to statements made by section of BJP workers of Phek district, demanding the ouster of the state unit president, the BJP general secretary (org) in-charge of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh Prasant Arora urged restrain and to stop going highlighting the issue in the media over inner party matters. He warned of disciplinary action against dissidents defying his appeal.
 Arora clarified that the state president Dr.M.Chuba would remain in office till such time party organization election was conducted as he enjoyed the confidence of the national BJP president.
He pointed out that by convention and constitution, only the state BJP president was the competent authority in the state to appoint or relieve any of the state officials and the district presidents.  He said the appointment of Eduzu Theluo as BJP Phek district unit president, was “constitutional and anybody defying the order, strong action will be taken”.
Arora said membership drive held in Phek district on January 19 was part of the national programme, initiated by the state level membership drive convener and co-convener in consultation with district convener and co-convener and BJP Phek district unit. He further warned of “stringent action” against anybody interfering in the exercise.
Pointing out that BJP was cadre-based disciplined party, Arora said obedience is the basic qualification and an attribute to become a member adding, there was no room for dissident activities in the hierarchy of the party organization.