Nagaland polls: Cash for votes is a huge sin, Therie counsels voters

Nagaland Congress pushes 'New alternative" ; voters say "you also failed" 

Kewekhape Therie is Congress president in Nagaland and this time contesting polls from prestigious Dimapur I. He is now 70 and during house to house interaction and locality based small meetings, he does not forget to tell people that this could be his last polls.

"Apni khan hi morom koribo....Ami toh bura hoisey," he says. This is not really important but what can be more important is that this is Therie's 10th election.
Some voters get excited when they hear about this and applause him trying to give moral booster to fight sitting MLA and BJP nominee Tovihoto. 

Therie follows his personal instinct and does not really care about being politically correct and says, "There is nothing personal against BJP candidate, he is like my son but for political reasons I have to fight him".

Even for Dimapur I voters one thing is clear, the Congress is raising the issue of creating an 'alternative'. However, the impression is becoming stronger that the political parties use the terms Solution and Peace only rhetorically, and no one believes in the process. 

Voters do not forget --- the Congress had miserably failed in various governance yardsticks and also to give Solution.

This actually brings entire debates about Dimapur I polls and campaigning to a new dimension.  This assembly segment has in the past been represented by towering personality Hokishe Sema and in 2003 when Dimapur I voters returned veteran Hokishe; the table was turned in the entire state against S C Jamir and the Congress party.

Ten years back in 1993, Hokishe lost to I Vikhishe Sema - an Independent who enjoyed S C Jamir's blessings-- and subsequently the story had gone in favour of Jamir. 

Vikheshe's slogan was "People's Choice against the Choice of Delhi". Some things do not really change even in 2023. 

Yet again, Dimapur I voters are at crossroads and the big question will they again be a trend setter.

David Rongmei, a resident of Ragailong colony, says, "If you say Nagaland wants change; the same spirit prevails in Dimapur I. The BJP legislator has been representing our constituency for last 10 years and even if we are not against Mr Tovihoto,  we should see Therie gets his last opportunity".

Another voter and a woman at Burma camp says, "Change is the essence of life...Chicken is delicious and good for health but after a while, it is always advisable to opt for vegetarian food".

A veg curry may not be a good alternative to a chicken delicacy, but such a change may be advisable at times. In Nagaland politics, while there is no shortage of complaints and allegation,  there is a big absence of an effective and meaningful political alternative.

As an old school neta, the Congress candidate understands the need to author and anchor a "different script". Selfishness is an over stated and oft repeated malady. 

Money changing hands is usual thing during elections and hence Therie says, "This is a very big sin (dangor pap). Of course Therie also knows in this world, who would like to give away people's own resources and power".

This is also linked to political impasse. "It is a matter of deep concern that the state assembly since 2018 did not pass any resolution urging the centre to implement Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017".  Several Congress footsoldiers and those among the crowd give Therie a patient hearing. A few of them could have voted for the BJP nominee in 2018; and thus they whisper to each other-- why BJP hesitated to deliver the solution.

As the meeting ends and this journalist talks to some voters; a few sound sceptical. If Narendra Modi could not deliver, who can - is the refrain.

The discussions go into more deeper issues. Do Naga leaders really prefer Status quo to Solution? So, all talks about peace and solution are only lip service ?

Ends

Young Turks of Nagaland 

DIMAPUR 

They do not belong to the same party. But six of them in 2023 electoral fray have a common thread. They all are 'Young' and they also belonged to so called Anti Corruption campaign in a state where financial defalcation is almost routine -- like normal file works.

Remember former Editor-turned-neta M J Akbar making almost a prophetic statement-- "In Nagaland payments are made for the works done in heaven".

The Young Turk brigade include - T Thomas Konyak for Congress party in Tizit. He is in his twenties and is a qualified engineer. He takes on BJP stalwart Paiwang Konyak.

In Ghaspani II, LJP [Ram Vilas] nominee Kihoto Rotokha also falls in this category and he is pitted against Zhaleo Rio of NDPP and Z Kasheto Yeptho of RPI-A. 

NPF nominee for prestigious Zunheboto town constituency is Akavi Sumi. For it's part Congress has Akavi Zhimomi in the same box trying his luck for Ghaspani I and against him is a BJP giant Jacob Zhimomi and also an Independent candidate V Pushika Awomi.

A physically lean and thin Akavi Zhimomi -- often described as Gandhi look alike by K L Chishi - had contested as AAP candidate in 2018 and had polled 6,233 votes as against 23,391 by the victor Jacob Zhimomi.

Interestingly, Ghaspani I could witness an Interesting battle between BJP's Zhimomi and an Independent candidate V Pushika Awomi. There is another intriguing affair in the entire game as reports in constituency suggest that Pushika had reportedly rejected NPF ticket and is now contesting as an Independent candidate. 

Grapevine is he was advised by his 'wellwishers' to contest as an Independent candidate. This is a significant episode.

The sixth Young Turk, according to analysts  is Kahuto Chishi Sumi also contesting as Independent candidate in high profile constituency Dimapur III.

Ends