DIMAPUR/NEW DELHI, MARCH 14: Nagaland has a reputation of not sending women legislators to the State Assembly.
But a mild miracle may happen as the State unit of BJP has recommended one woman candidate to the central leadership for the lone Rajya Sabha seat.
Only in the 1970s, Rano Shaiza was elected as Nagaland MP to the Lok Sabha as UDF candidate riding the post-Emergency wave.
The Nagaland BJP in their recommendation paper has said the special committee of party leaders has made the recommendations while trying to respect ‘regional dynamics’ in the State of Nagaland.
All the four names are from Mon-Tuensang region and include two from Konyak tribes in Mon district and two others from Tuensang district.
“Final decision is in the hands of the BJP central leadership. But at the State levels, the party has factored in the regional dynamics”, a source told this newspaper.
Two names recommended from Tuensang district bordering Myanmar belong one each to Yimchunger and Sangtam tribe.
One recommended leader is a former lawmaker.
Four nominees from Nagaland BJP are: S Phangnon Konyak (Nagaland women wing BJP chief), former Congress MP Asungba Sangtam, Naiba Konyak and T Kekongchim Yimchunger.
Sources said NDPP chief Chingwang Konyak and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio assured BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday evening in New Delhi that they will honour their earlier commitment and ensure election of BJP nominee to the Upper House of Parliament.
In 2019, the NDPP-BJP combine had ensured victory of NDPP nominee Tokheho Yepthomi as the lone Lok Sabha member from the State fighting a close battle against Congress candidate KL Chishi.
The NDPP and BJP alliance came to power in the State in March 2018. In 2019, the NPF had supported Congress candidate KL Chishi in the parliamentary elections of 2019.
Notably, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had described the decision of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) to support Congress candidate KL Chishi for the Lok Sabha polls in Nagaland as “magnanimous and above political boundaries”.
In a statement NPCC president K Therie said the NPF’s decision to support the Congress candidate Chishi for 2019 parliamentary polls has not only strengthened the secular force but has also given a shot in the arm to the demand for removal of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. (Page News Service)
