The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Nagaland on Tuesday kicked off its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections here and promised to continue development projects and protect rights of the Nagas.

The alliance, comprising the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), BJP, National People’s Party, JDU and an Independent, fielded its consensus candidate and sitting Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state. Yepthomi is from the NDPP, a major partner of the PDA.

Addressing the campaign at Dimapur District Sports Complex stadium, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the ruling alliance in the state had started work on the election promises after forming the government last year with Dimapur and Kohima as priorities.

“Just wait for the four-lane work on National Highway 29 between Dimapur and Kohima to be complete. Development of all town roads and district headquarters will be taken up too,” Rio said.

He said nine to 10 departments of the state had received national awards in the last one year while Nagaland was adjudged the “Best performing small state in law and order” category by the India Today State of State’s Survey 2018.

Rio said: “This was possible because of peaceful ambience and development projects in the state.”

According to him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image got a boost after the retaliatory action against militants following the Pulwama terror attack and release of an IAF pilot by Pakistan a day after his capture.

He exuded confidence that the BJP would come back to power and added that only the BJP can settle the Naga political issue. “After the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre in 2014, it signed the framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M) on August 3, 2015,” the chief minister said.

On the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Rio said “it is a matter of concern for the Northeast”. He, however, said the PDA is confident that Article 371 (A) of the Constitution will protect the rights of the Nagas even if the bill is passed.

He said the leadership of Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) is “confused” and fighting among themselves over fielding a candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat. “While one group is for fielding a candidate of its own, another is for backing a Congress candidate. It will be a shame if the NPF, which has 26 MLAs in Nagaland, backs the Congress which does not even have a single MLA in the state.”

Yepthomi said the Naga talks did not progress during the UPA rule. “It was only after the BJP government came to power that the framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M) was signed,” he said, adding that the parliamentary standing committee, formed by the NDA government on the Naga issue, submitted its report in Parliament which said the talks were in advanced stage.

The committee suggested that the government pursue the negotiations to settle the issue.

“If the Nagas want settlement, they must be with the central government,” Yepthomi said.

Deputy chief minister and state BJP leader Y. Patton, among leaders of the alliance partners, also spoke on the occasion.