Kohima Village Council on Wednesday organised the Common Platform for the candidates of 10th Northern Angami Assembly Constituency for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at Kohima Village ground at Ziekiezou (near DBS), Kohima.

The program received a grand response was attend and was attended by thousands of people who filled the seats and gallery to capacity.

Held under the Chairmanship of Hielievio Solo, the feature of the program included speeches by both the contesting candidates, sitting MLA Khriehu Liezietsu of Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).

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Khriehu Liezietsu was the first to take stage. He said, “I am not here to debate but to thank our village and to appeal to our fellow-villagers; to share my stance; to talk about some of the works I have done, and to share some of my thoughts for the future”.

He said that in the current assembly, all 60 MLAs got together in the hope that together we can present a united voice with respect to the Naga political issue. He added that they had expected results before the elections but that did not happen. He said that the 60 MLAs elected to the next assembly will continue to push for a final solution.

The NPF candidate maintained that on their party side, there is a pre-poll understanding for a post-poll alliance to continue to work together.

He said that in the last few years, he had been in the opposition but still he could reach out to the senior citizens, widows and the poorest sections of the society by giving them some articles twice a year. Every year he had extended help for admission fees to 300-350 students. During COVID pandemic, he could distribute food items and other articles 3 times.

To help students in preparation for UPSC and NPSC examination, ALS Coaching institute was started, and he said that he is trying to extend assistance in coordination with Kohima Village Students Union.

He stated that he repaired the village roads twice in the past few years, and in 2022, he helped in blacktopping of the village roads under SASCI scheme. He said that the remaining roads will be constructed in future in coordination with allied departments.

Naga People’s Front’s candidate Khriehu Liezietsu

Further, Liezietsu said that under LADF and under Village Adoption committee, many works were initiated in areas like Kenuozou, Khikha-Rüleizou, Bayavü and Chedema Model village. More areas will be taken up in future.

He claimed that being in opposition and due to lack of funds, many works could not be accomplished. He admitted that he could not give funds to the Village Council under LADF for which he has already expressed his regret. If elected again, he said he will give 10% of LADF to the village.

The candidate also regretted not being able to complete the Ziekezou ground due to some errors by departmental engineers for which some structures had to be demolished. He assured that things are now on track and the playground will be completed in the earliest.

He claimed that under Youth Resources and Sports, there are 18 indoor stadiums. In Kohima village, there are four completed indoor stadiums while one is under construction.

Liezietsu assured that he will intensify the works done for the senior citizens, widows, the poorest of the poor and the students and pledged to continue to help students prepare for competitive exams in coordination with KVSU.

He said that he will help the youth to avail employment and welfare schemes from various departments and at the same time in setting up businesses and start-up. He said that from both government schemes and his own contribution, he will help form self-help groups for self-employment.

For farmers, he will ensure better implementation of the departmental schemes.

In sports and other fields, he assured that he will assist in availing of trainings.

Sitting MLA and NPF Candidate Khriehu Liezietsu said that roads, water, electricity and health will be his major focus.

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party candidate Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome

Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, NDPP Candidate started by saying that this is the 3rd time he is contesting the election.

He said that our visionary elders have given very good land so that we can have a playground but expressed regret that Ziekezou playground has been turned into an earth-dumping ground. Yhome said that if fortune favours, he will work with the concerned department to complete the unfinished works in the playground.

Yhome revealed that his parents raised him and his seven siblings under very difficult circumstances. Since he has seen poverty, and he knows it, the candidate said that he did not wish to see any person in his constituency live in poverty.

He said that they grew up using kerosene lamps at home. Growing up, he sold newspapers for earning his pocket money and later started teaching so that he could pay for his college, he said. After college, he taught in Baptist College, Kohima to earn money to complete his M.Phil.

Talking about his visions and aspirations, Yhome said that a new site for Kohima College has been approved and works on a girls’ hostel has been initiated, and once shifted, Thinuovicha Memorial Higher secondary school will be restored. He cited the need for engineering college in the constituency; while under Agriculture University, various colleges like fishery, Agri engineering, forestry etc need to be initiated.

If elected, the NDPP candidate assured that water supply system will be augmented in coordination with Kohima Village Council and the Wards. He said that there is a need to install transformers which can serve for 40-50 years.

Further, he said that roads need to be developed in Chedema and in urban wards, the Primary Health Centre in P. Khel needs to be upgraded to Community Health Centre while the dispensary in Chedema needs to be upgraded to Primary Health Centre.

Yhome also mentioned the need for a police station is required in New Secretariat complex area.

He pledged that he would work taking inputs from both youth and elders and act as a bridge to share the aspirations with the government.

Working as an environmental diplomat, the NDPP candidate claimed that he did a lot of works to fight for the rights of indigenous people and said if he is elected, that he will ensure that grade IV posts be given to indigenous people of the area as per the provisions of the government.

He maintained that as Chairman of Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (NBOCWWB), he found that only 35 youths of the village were registered. He said that he helped to register 1200 youths under the board to avail relevant schemes. Yhome informed said that under Chief Minister Entrepreneurship scheme, amount up to Rs. 15 lakhs can be availed by the youth.

The NDPP candidate said that census and delimitation exercises will be done in a few years. In delimitation exercise, assembly constituencies will be reorganised. He appealed to the electorate to elect him so that he can give his best to work under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu so that the village does not lose out in the delimitation exercise.

He said that he will give his best to speak, to argue for 10th Northern Angami A/C in Nagaland Assembly, and work unceasingly to legislate for the welfare of the constituency.

Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome said that the current MLA has done many works, but if there are some pending works, he will do his best to complete those works.

Both contesting candidates thanked Kohima Village Council for organising such a platform and enabling them to share their agenda with the people.

Hielievio Solo, KVC Chairman (L) and Rev. Keviyiekielie Linyü

Rev. Keviyiekielie Linyü, Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church, shared Bible passage and prayed for the program and the candidates.

Zeneizo Rutsa, Vice-Chairman, while proposing the vote of thanks, challenged the electorate to stand steadfast in holding the Model Code of Conduct formulated by election commission.