Dr Asangba Tzudir
As reported, the JDU Nagaland has demanded certain actions for what can be termed as “PDA’s LS debacle.” Branding it as a debacle may be agreeable considering the circumstances under which the PDA’s ‘wholehearted’ consensus candidate lost to the INC candidate. With reference to this “debacle”, the RPP called the Cong’s triumph ‘victory for the ages.’ Indeed, the outcome may come as a surprise considering the situational context of 60 vrs. 1.
While terming the result as a “big shame” the JDU’s demand for resignation of those ministers and advisors on moral grounds in whose constituency they were reduced to minority, while also demanding the resignation of all the top ranks and file of NDPP and BJP on moral ground, may seem justified considering the impact of the ‘political power and leverage’ the legislators can have on the people especially in their respective constituencies.
However, taking literally, the demand for resignation may seem to be harsh considering the fact that they cannot entirely be blamed for their consensus candidate losing by more than 50,984 votes, unless the idea of the consensus was forcibly engineered against the wishes of the fellow legislators. This rather calls for celebration of expression of the power of the people rather than demanding resignation of “failed legislators” on moral grounds. Indeed a “victory for the ages” as termed by the RPP.
In the end, it was not a case of 60 vrs. 1, but clearly a case of 60 vrs. the people of Nagaland. The very people that voted them to power in the 14th Nagaland State Legislative Assembly election voted against them in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election. Was it a case of shifting loyalties? The nature of the two elections are different, and while the state legislative Assembly election holds much significance for the people of Nagaland in the context of governance, the larger opposition campaign trail in the centre in the lead up to the Lok sabha election mirrored a ‘battle’ for restoring democracy and respect for the various diversities.
In our own den, this was also a chord that reverberated well in the minds of the people because at stake was something that was much more important than to go with the consensus of the 60 legislators. It was something bigger than what money nor muscle power or temporal loyalties can buy. The mandate of the people has also sent a clear message to the 60 legislators that the power lies not with the legislators but with the people. It was the coming of the expression of power premised on the bottom-up model of power. The voice of the battle for democracy and democratic values also resulted in a diminished majority for the NDA though they are set for a 3rd term.
So, it was not really a case of shifting loyalties but a clear sign of expression of the power of the people through the exercise of their franchise for the right reasons especially in the face of perceived threats to democracy in a country that boasts of being the largest democracy in the world.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes guest editorial for the Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
