NDPP and Former BJP Leader Defect to Congress Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections in Nagaland

In a significant setback for the ruling alliance ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader James Kuotsu and former BJP leader Kidongam Panmei have joined the Congress party. The move was formalized in the presence of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president S Supongmeren Jamir.

Both Kuotsu and Panmei cited their decision to join the Congress as a voluntary effort to bolster Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide movement aimed at safeguarding the nation’s secular and democratic principles. They expressed concerns about the perceived threats posed by the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Modi.

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee issued a press statement welcoming the new entrants and expressing support for their decision to align with the Congress party’s progressive and secular ideals.

The defections come ahead of polling for Nagaland’s lone parliamentary constituency scheduled for April 19. The outcome of this political realignment adds intrigue to the electoral landscape in Nagaland, where the ruling NDPP emerged victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) secured victory in the 2014 polls.

With the addition of Kuotsu and Panmei, the Congress aims to strengthen its presence in Nagaland and challenge the ruling alliance’s dominance, setting the stage for a closely contested electoral battle in the state.