RPI (A) sets up Kasheto Yepthomi as Zhaleo’s opponent

January 23, 2023 86 Views No Comment

Yepthomi rubbishes buy out rumour over turf change

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 212

A former Independent candidate from 4 Ghaspani I Assembly Constituency, Z Kasheto Yepthomi, declared his candidature in the February 27 Nagaland Assembly polls. He announced his entry into the electoral race at a press conference on January 21 in Dimapur, as a candidate of the Republican Party of India (A), which is headed by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, and is an ally of the BJP at the Centre.

Yepthomi had gone up against his cousin, BJP legislator and PHED Minister, N Jacob Zhimomi in the 2018 polls. This time, however, he has changed the electoral ground to 5 Ghaspani II AC, held currently by the NDPP’s Zhaleo Rio.

The reason for the change of battleground was attributed to close family ties between him and Zhimomi. According to him, their electoral clash in the last elections had come at the cost of souring of relations among the two families.

Considering the importance of keeping the family ties intact, he said that they were reconciled through the mediation of relatives. “My position was good in 4 Ghaspani I. But we are family,” he said.

The news of the former foes reconciling had gone viral on social media, alongwith a picture of the two shaking hands, around mid-December, 2022. The reconciliation however courted controversy as Yepthomi was accused of desertion by his supporters from 4 Ghaspani I.

It was followed by rumour that he had cashed in around Rs 30-50 cr from Zhimomi in exchange for backing out of 4 Ghaspani I. Yepthomi brushed this off as illogical speculation, while maintaining that there was no grounds for Zhimomi to buy him out.

On his development goals for 5 Ghaspani II, he said that the constituency despite being situated close to Dimapur and Kohima is the most undeveloped in the whole of Nagaland. He cited improving roads, education, health care and generating employment avenues for the educated unemployed as his priority areas.

He admitted to the involvement of big money in elections in Nagaland but claimed that the “pulse” today is changing. He said, “As per the pulse today, more than 70 percent wants change for the better. People are educated and getting more aware and I can say that that money would not play that big a role in my campaign.”

The RPI (A)’s Nagaland unit President, Mughato Ayemi, informed that the party will contest in 5 seats maximum and is eyeing at post-poll tie-up, in all likelihood, with the BJP.