A leadership dispute has broken out within the Dimapur District Congress Committee (DDCC) after the All India Congress Committee appointed Rajesh Kumar Sethi as district president, drawing strong objections from incumbent chief Kutoho Chishi and party workers.Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Chishi said he was “shocked” by the announcement. He stated that he had been elected as DDCC president through an AICC-supervised process on September 3, 2023, with his term valid until 2028.Chishi pointed out that during the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan held between February 17 and 24 this year, AICC district observer Vijay Laxmi Sadho found no competing nominations for the post. “The sudden announcement has come as a surprise,” he said, questioning the process behind the decision. He also raised concerns over Sethi’s eligibility, citing rules related to valid primary membership. According to him, Sethi was not present in the district during the organisational exercise and was in Delhi at the time.
DDCC general secretary Kumjimong supported Chishi’s claims, stating that no nomination had been received during the official process. He warned that the development has created confusion and uncertainty among party workers.DDCC media cell general secretary Andrew Humtsoe clarified that the unit was not opposing the AICC, but was raising questions about the procedure followed in the appointment.Leaders from several Dimapur constituencies also questioned Sethi’s membership status. District minority chairman Md Ahad Uddin Talukdar backed Chishi and cautioned that the issue could affect the party’s functioning at the grassroots level. Reacting to the controversy, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president S. Supongmeren Jamir said the matter appeared to be due to “anomalies” that need correction. He added that similar issues have been reported in Mokokchung and Mon district committees. Jamir said the NPCC will meet on April 4 to take up the matter with the party’s central leadership. “Until further notice, all present presidents will continue,” he said, in an attempt to bring stability within the party.
Meanwhile, Sethi, in a separate statement, said he was himself surprised by his nomination. He stated that he had neither filed a nomination nor sought the position. According to him, his name emerged during internal discussions held as part of the organisational exercise conducted across Nagaland.While accepting the responsibility, Sethi acknowledged the concerns raised by the Dimapur unit and said they were valid and needed attention. He urged both the NPCC and the AICC to clarify the matter at the earliest. Sethi also reaffirmed his commitment to the Congress party, noting that he currently serves in the minority department of the AICC. He said his final decision on accepting the post would depend on the direction of the party leadership.
