Kohima (PTI): Benjamin Yepthomi was on Monday appointed the new president of the BJP Nagaland unit with immediate effect, a party official said.

Yepthomi, 45, replaces Temjen Imna Along as the new BJP Nagaland unit president.

"BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has appointed Benjamin Yapthomi, as state president of Nagaland, BJP," stated an appointment order issued by BJP National general secretary and headquarters in charge, Arjun Singh on Monday.

Yepthomi has held various posts in the party organization. After serving the party as the state BJYM president for two consecutive terms he was made the vice president of BJP Nagaland in November 2021.

Taking to X, Yepthomi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh for giving him the responsibility to serve as the state BJP president.

"It is an honour and a privilege to continue serving the world's largest political party and the people," he wrote.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton and outgoing BJP state president and minister Temjen Imna Along congratulated Yepthomi for being the new BJP president of the state.

Extending hearty congratulations, Rio on his X handle wished him a successful tenure.

Rio also extended good wishes for further success to the outgoing president Along.

Deputy CM and BJP Legislature Party leader, Y Patton said that Yepthomi has served the party holding various positions and is a hardworking karyakarta.

Patton expressed hope that with his vast knowledge of party affairs, his organizational skills and experience, Yepthomi would lead the party to greater heights.

Outgoing president Along congratulated Yepthomi and said, "Your vision and commitment will take BJP Nagaland to greater heights."

He wished him a successful tenure ahead.

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.