From ‘Opposition-less’ to 'Party-less’ Government

Moa Jamir  

Here’s the latest joke doing rounds these days in Nagaland. A tad inflated, but nonetheless acutely reflecting the state of affairs:  

“Teacher: Who is the Chief Minister of Nagaland? Student: Last month or this month?”  

The recurring political drama was also a premise of a viral satire video. Such narratives, however, are not groundless. Since its first formation, the present 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly under the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) on February 23, 2013; the State has seen the change of guard at the top four times officially, besides numerous unofficial trysts.  

Consequently, the country’s ‘first-ever’ situations are regularly churned out in the political arena by its squabbling participants to the amusement and dismay of its populace. Nagaland declares itself to be ‘the land of festivals.’ Perhaps the sobriquet also relates to the celebration of winning sides after each episode.  

Matters get more curious in each unfolding event as wobbling politicians and conflicting parties keep changing their affinities. Loyalty, ideology and principle stand as the collateral damage, besides governance and welfare of the people. 

In the previous episode, the state became one of the pioneers of ‘opposition-less’ government with the merger of eight Congress MLAs into the ruling NPF in November 2015. Who needs an opposition, when there is constant ‘intra-party’ power struggle to ensure check and balances, one can argue. But that’s beside the point.  

Now, with the expulsion of the present Chief Minister TR Zeliang on the day of his oath taking on July 19, along with 19 others and 11 suspensions from Naga People’s Front (NPF), the top honcho in the state is now 'Party-less'; ditto for most of the Council of Ministers.  

“He (TR Zeliang) tried to destabilise and instigate the leadership of NPF-led DAN government, demanding the resignation of the party Chief Minister and its party president," the expulsion letter alleged.  

In this changing political dynamics, a “natural ally” became alleged fomenter of “instability in the State” and inciter of rebellion. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NPF, ‘associated with since 1977’ cut the cord on July 19. Inclusion of two BJP MLAs in the TR Cabinet is revealing.  

In such a situation, a multi-linguist Governor looking after a squabbling family, instead of being an objective observer of unfolding events, is accused of adopting a “partisan attitude” in the whole affairs. Two political parties, including one that has no role in the whole crises, have leveled that charge against the Governor. His third-year anniversary in office on July 14, unfortunately, dented by the whole affairs. “The haste with which he has acted favouring the RSS-friendly dispensation should be a wake-up call for the Naga people...," said a release issued by NPF Media and Press Bureau in Kohima.  

Its Youth-wing made its displeasure known by organising a ‘Beef Feast’ in Capital Kohima on July 21 and inviting the Head of the State to the event. A better late than never political gimmick applied retrospectively.  

However, the present formation is outside the ambit of 10th Schedule of the Constitution, popularly referred as the Anti-Defection Law. Under Split and merger criteria, at least two-third members of a legislature party can form a new political group, or ‘merge’ with another political party without getting disqualified.  

As thing stands, if nothing at all, the present Chief Minister has two unique distinctions – enabling an opposition-less State government and being a Party-less Chief Minister.  

Desperate situation, indeed, produces desperate outcomes.  

For any comment, drop a line to moajamir@live.com