JD(U)’s general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan issued a statement saying the party’s Nagaland unit has been dissolved with “immediate effect” after state chief Senchumo NSN Lotha submitted a letter supporting chief minister Neiphiu Rio without consulting the party’s central leadership.
Patna,UPDATED: Mar 9, 2023 15:00 IST
The Janata Dal United’s Nagaland unit has been dissolved with immediate effect (Representational photo)
By India Today News Desk: The Janata Dal (United) dissolved its Nagaland unit “with immediate effect” after the state party chief Senchumo NSN Lotha submitted his letter of support to the NDPP-BJP coalition government with Neiphiu Rio as chief minister. JD(U)’s general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan said the letter was submitted without consulting the party’s central leadership.
This brings a halt to the JD(U)’s aspirations of becoming a national player in Indian politics, at least for the time being. For a regional party to attain national status, it has to be recognised as a state party in four states, with at least six per cent of the total vote share with one seat, or eight per cent vote share without a seat.
The party has been contesting the Nagaland polls since 2003, when it contested 13 of the total 60 seats and won three, with a vote share of 5.8 per cent. In 2008, it contested three seats and lost all. In 2013, it contested three seats and won one.
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In the 2018 Assembly election, JD(U) fielded candidates in 14 seats and won one with a total vote share of 5.49 per cent. In 2023, however, it contested seven seats and won one with a vote share of 3.3 per cent.
The statement released by Afaque Ahmad Khan charged the party’s Nagaland chief Senchumo NSN Lotha with “high indiscipline”.
JDU spokesperson Sunil Singh told India Today that Nagaland is an example of the “oppositionless politics” that the BJP aspires to impose on the whole country. He said Senchumo NSN Lotha took a unilateral decision without prior consultation with the party top brass.
Meanwhile, sensing a threat to the Mahagathbandhan coalition in Bihar, RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmad said the situation in Nagaland is “yet another attempt” by the BJP to undermine democracy and democratic processes. He accused the BJP of not having faith in the voters’ mandate.
(Input by Aditya Vaibhav from Patna)
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