Nagaland Elections: AAP Nagaland to contest upcoming state election

January 26, 2023 21 Views No Comment

Asu Keyho appointed party State Chief

Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 26

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on January 25, declared its decision to contest the forthcoming general elections in Nagaland with the announcement of a new State party chief.

Addressing a press conference here at 2K Hotel Kohima, the party’s North East in-charge, Rajesh Sharma announced that former MLA Asu Keyho will be the president of AAP Nagaland State.

“We are very hopeful that under the leadership of Asu Keyho, AAP will rise here and go to the grassroots of Nagaland and in the coming years, the politics of Nagaland will change,” Sharma said.

AAP was founded in November 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal and others, following the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement.

Sharma informed that the journey of AAP started in 2012 and the party is committed towards elimination of corruption from politics and governance in the country.

The party stresses real issue like good education for children, good health care for the people, good road and infrastructure where the country is lacking, he said.

He further castigated that there is no development in Nagaland, citing bad road condition, poor health care system, schools.

“We need to change this,” Sharma maintained, and opined that the right time has come for the people of Nagaland to rise up and work for good governance, honest politics and work for overall development as well as eliminating corruption from politics and governance.

Invites like-minded people
Sharma expressed optimism that many more people would join AAP.

We are inviting all those people who want to bring change, who are honest, who are thinking that politics of development should start in Nagaland and corruption should be eliminated, he said.

All such people are invited to join us, Sharma said and expounded that the AAP would have a good journey in Nagaland.

The new State president, likewise, invited everyone to join the party and underscored the readiness to uphold the principle of AAP-honesty, corruption free.

If there are such people, they are welcomed to be part of the AAP in its endeavour to achieve the greater heights for the country and for the betterment of everyone, he said.

‘We have a dream to see the seeds of AAP getting roots in Nagaland. It will shine, it will give a new direction, a new vision and a new hope for our generation,’ Keyho added.

Keyho also expressed happiness that the AAP National Convenor and the chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal has given him an opportunity to shoulder the responsibility the party affairs in Nagaland.

“AAP is a party with difference. They have delivered what a government should be,” he said.

No to pre-poll alliance
Meanwhile, Sharma said that AAP will be contesting in the coming state election to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly scheduled for February 27.

“We are looking for good candidates,” he said.

On being asked the number of seats AAP is likely to contest, he replied the party is yet to decide. “But we are thinking that there are lots of people who want change. So if good people are coming, youth of Nagaland, women of Nagaland, who want to bring change, we welcome them,” Sharma said. “We will contest as many seats as possible.”

Regarding the party’s agenda for the poll in Nagaland, Sharma said that the coordination committee will come out with a concrete agenda after a broad discussion with like-minded people.

However, he hinted that development agenda like education, health care, employment generation, making the state corruption free including good road and infrastructure would be the priority of AAP.

“We are not looking for pre-poll understanding,” Sharma asserted with queried on understanding or alliance with other political parties.

He further indicated that APP National Convenor Kejriwal “will definitely visit Nagaland” when the party has good candidate and people of Nagaland welcome them.

Sharma informed that AAP will form a coordination committee for Nagaland within a day or two and announce its name and further strategies.

He further highlighted that in 10 years since its formation, AAP has formed government in two states- Delhi and Punjab, while the party has 5 MLAs in Gujarat, 2 in Goa and many elected counselors and local body representatives in various states including Assam.

It must be noted here that the AAP part first entered Nagaland in 2017 and entered the 2018 electoral fray with 3 candidates.