Naga politicians never cease to surprise and they have the knack for playing their intrigue political game in winter. The latest episode in the never-ending saga of Naga People’s Front (NPF)’s political drama was the resignation of the Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Neiphiu Rio as the President of the NPF camp he was heading after spending last two seasons fighting over the throne.
Accusing the Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang of ‘going behind his back,’ and carrying out a signature campaign to reconcile with Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, Rio said he would inform the Election Commission of India on his decision to step down as ‘NPF President.’
The public braced for ‘oh so familiar’ affliction once again. When the NPF, a recognized State Party in Nagaland and Manipur, returned to power to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly with a huge mandate of 38 members in 2013, the public never expected such a political jamboree. The State has since moved from an opposition-less government to party-less government.
“In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests,” goes a popular adage. With repetitive antics, it has become a farce in Nagaland.
Therefore, it is not surprising when a friends-turn-bête noire or vice-versa. Party hopping and defection over the years had been a favourite hobby of Naga politicians regualarly highlighted earlier in this column. Incidentally, the scope and various aspects of the anti-defection law were also enhanced by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in a case involving Naga politicians.
The performance of the government is determined by the level of people-oriented welfare measures and developmental activities it undertakes. As another political drama unfolds in Nagaland, however, one is acutely aware of the wretched political affliction as the perpetual power struggle continues to unravel in the midst.
While the guessing games continue, one can safely say that political exigencies might have contributed to the latest development. An emergency situation or exigency demands immediate action, and both Zeliang and Liezietsu were acutely aware of it after October 17, 2017 Election Commission of India’s arbitration on the issue.
The ECI informed both rivals that until they “exhaust all means under the party constitution” to resolve the crisis, it cannot intervene. Paradoxically, an internal infighting issue was asked to solve within the Party and both were told to hold “General Convention as per procedure laid down in Article XV of the Party Constitution for resolving the dispute.”
While separate General Conventions were organised thereafter, one thing was clear. Rio camp has the legislators in their pockets but short of Party cadres, while Liezietsu’s has the numbers but lack the elected representatives.
As the process for election starts, therefore, commonalities arising out of political exigencies might have propelled Zeliang and Liezietsu to seek the path of reconciliation. While Rio might be the collateral damage in this current arrangement, the real twist might start from here.
