Countering NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie’s statement, some senior BJP workers of the state has said that when then National General Secretary BJP, Ram Madhav negotiated seat sharing arrangement with NPF leadership, the BJP was allotted only three out of 60 seats in 2018.
The senior BJP workers said BJP had even considered and expressed willingness to continue with the DAN alliance by accepting five seats. However, “the arrogant and overconfident NPF leadership refused our plea,” they said. As a consequence, both parties parted ways when talks collapsed. It was then that NDPP under Neiphiu Rio( the present chief minister) offered BJP with 20 seats and that “ the rest is history” for Nagas to see, they added.
The senior BJP workers who issued the rejinder include Yanghose Sangtam; Kheto Kinimi (ex-minister); ex-BJP candidates– Dr Sukhato Sumi and Er Cheong Konyak; former State BJP vice-president Mghato Achumi, former State BJP Mahila president Sanu Ngulie, SEMs– Vikheli Zhimomi, Bichano, Mhalo and Asangla Ao.
With regard to all-party government formation, the BJP workers said the present alliance with NDPP “is smooth and comfortable” and that the party stood committed to the coalition to serve the full five-year term in office in service of people. They also asked “why is the NPF so desperate of joining the ruling government?” and further advised NPF to “be patient and serve our people when their time comes.”