Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday made a raft of promises for poll-bound Nagaland, especially for women and senior citizens, even as he launched a stinging attack on the BJP for "looting" the state. Addressing a rally at Diphupar village public ground in Nagaland, Kharge said the Christian society was being attacked and people were being divided in the name of religion and caste.
"Congress, if voted to power, guarantees payment of 100 per cent wages under MNREGA to job card holders, loans for higher education at 0 per cent interest, clean drinking water and sanitation," ANI quoted Kharge as saying.
Nagaland goes to the polls for its 60-member Assembly on February 27 and the counting of votes is scheduled on March 2.
Hitting out at the BJP, Kharge said an atmosphere of "hatred and fear" had been created in the last nine years under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"For the last 20 years NDPP, NPF and BJP looted Nagaland. It is high time that the people get justice and a govt that works for the people," the Congress leader said.
"People are being divided in the name of religion and caste. The rich are being made richer. Christian society is being attacked," Kharge further said.
This time, BJP and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) are jointly fighting the polls. NDPP is contesting in 40 seats and BJP in 20. NPF is fighting polls on its own and has fielded 22 candidates. Congress has fielded candidates in 23 seats.
In the 2018 polls, NDPP had won 18 seats, BJP 12 seats and Congress none. The NPF won in 26 seats in the 60-member House. In September 2021, NPF joined the ruling NDPP and BJP to form the United Democratic Alliance to press for an early solution to the Naga issue. However, in April 2022, its 21 legislators headed by former chief minister TR Zeliang merged with NDPP.