Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been on the centre of the State’s politics for over 20 years. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Nagaland Assembly election has the promise of an attention-grabbing contest as Neiphiu Rio, the State’s longest serving Chief Minister who’s on the lookout for a document fifth time period in workplace, will face a novice within the political area.
The struggle shall be a straight one during which Congress candidate Seyievilie Sachu, for whom the February 27 ballot shall be his first outing within the State election, has thrown a problem to the 72-year-old political big.
37-year-old Sachu is upbeat concerning the obvious unequal contest in opposition to a person of Mr. Rio’s stature, who has been on the centre of the State’s politics for over 20 years.
Mr. Rio had gained the celebrated Northern Angami seat unanimously in 2018 and can contest from the seat this time too.
Asked about his determination to enter right into a contest in opposition to no much less an individual than the Chief Minister, Mr. Sachu stated many individuals, together with family members, had been initially in opposition to it.
“They said that I cannot match Rio who is already established politically and financially,” he stated.
Many individuals had additionally initially expressed scepticism that he would finally withdraw from the competition and stated that he has joined the fray for private advantages.
But many individuals at the moment are supporting him, claims Mr. Sachu, who has campaigned in virtually all of the 33 villages of the constituency.
“If there is a free and fair contest without any inducement, people will vote for change,” he stated.
Mr. Sachu stated he determined to throw his hat into the ring out of his concern for the welfare of the individuals and to struggle in opposition to the coverage of offering assist solely to shut aides of Mr. Rio. “I wanted to stand and fight for the rights of the neglected citizens of the constituency who are at the grassroot level,” he stated.
He feels there may be additionally the necessity for changing the management and younger leaders ought to come ahead to change the complete political dynamics of the State.
“If there is a free and fair contest without any inducement, people will vote for change,” Mr. Sachu stated.
Asked, he stated the voters of the constituency had anticipated improvement of all villages of the constituency in addition to welfare for its individuals.
But the constituency has not witnessed a lot improvement, he claimed. “The rich are becoming richer and the poor are being neglected under Mr. Rio’s leadership”.
While there is a rise within the variety of educated youths, they don’t discover job avenues both within the authorities or within the non-public sectors within the State. “I want to create job opportunities for them and also provide a secure environment for the elderly,” Mr. Suchu stated.
He had joined Congress in 2008 as its youth wing president of the constituency and later turned the Kohima District Youth Congress Committe in 2016. Mr. Sachu was elevated as vice-president of the district Congress committee in 2019.
Mr. Rio interacting with reporters not too long ago stated, “This is democracy and it depends on the political party. This being an election I respect any candidate”.
The Chief Minister is the second richest candidate among the many complete 183 within the fray within the State. He owns complete property valued at ₹46.95 crore, whereas Mr. Sachu has property price ₹18 lakh, in accordance to declarations to the Election Commission.
Mr. Rio’s political profession has had its share of ups and downs. He first contested the State election in 1987 as an Independent however was defeated. He then joined Congress and was elected in 1989. He give up the social gathering in 2002 and joined the Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF). He revived the cock image of the NPF and defeated the Congress regime of S.C. Jamir in 2003 to grow to be the Chief Minister.
Thereafter Mr. Rio remained in workplace for 3 consecutive phrases until 2013. In 2014 he gained the Lok Sabha election. However, his stint in Parliament was a brief lived as he returned to State politics and joined the newly shaped Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. He turned the Chief Minister for the fourth time in 2018.
