Has Chingwang defied Rio line ? NDPP Political Resolution lacked substance :: But party chief "endorses" Ravi line talks OVER BY OCT 2019, calls for Solution "without further delay"

Possibly an unthinkable thing has happened. 

Will the real NDPP stand out ? 

The Rio Cabinet in Nagaland had met Amit Shah in Nov 2024 demanding 'new interlocutor' for Naga peace talks. The plea was rejected outright.

But at the NDPP general convention on Feb 27th (Thursday), 2025, party chief Chingwang Konyak said: 

"... talks with the NSCN (I-M) and with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) were concluded on 31 October, 2019". 

In the process, has the party chief snubbed the Rio cabinet - NDPP-BJP combine itself ? 

The inherent contradiction within the NDPP top leadership is palpable. 

A day after the speech was delivered by Chingwang Konyak in presence of Neiphiu Rio and other stalwarts and including a few know-all advisors of the Chief Minister, the Govt of India has rather taken a 'jaundiced view'.

Which is the real NDPP ? -- is the refrain in Delhi circles and not without good reasons. 

Veteran Chingwang - probably sees the writing on the wall and therefore appealed "...to leaders of the (Naga) National workers to come together and with one voice and settle the issue with the Government of India without further delay." 

Is Rio agreeing to see the 'writing on the wall' ?

Chingwang said: "The top most concern and desire of the people of Nagaland is that the leaders of the various National Workers groups lose no further time for the settlement of the political issue with India. As long as the political stalemate continues, there can be no peace in Nagaland." 

Chingwang is known for his mild manner and is often taken as a soft passive kind of a personality. 

Way back in 1993 as the then Nagaland pradesh Congress president, he had famously told 'The Nagaland Times' -- "I am not a rubber stamp president".  

Is he displaying the same guts and decisiveness yet again.  

The then Chief Minister S C Jamir never took lightly vis-a-vis Chingwang in 1993-94 and later he was denied the Congress ticket for the by-poll for Tehok assembly seat after sitting legislator T P Manlem had expired. 

Jamir had nominated his "trusted right hand - left hand team Rio and K Therie" to meet AICC general secretary Sushilkumar Shinde and the Congress ticket for the by-poll was given to a former tourist officer W. Wangyuh Konyak, who had quit the job to try his fortune in politics. 

In 1993 general elections P Enyiye Konyak (NPC) had defeated Chingwang Konyak and the latter had several complaint about the intra-party squabbling. 

S C Jamir: Maestro of Naga politics 

Whether Chingwang has made the speech on his own or he has done so at the behest of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio remains to be seen.

The answer to this puzzle as of now remains in the womb of time. 

Chingwang also said : 

"The paramount task, therefore, the people of Nagaland is to find a permanent solution to this problem. 

Therefore, appeal to leaders of the National workers to come together and with one voice and settle the issue with the Government of India without further delay."  

The statement from Chingwang at this juncture deserves closer scrutiny as the NDPP Political resolution avoided raising these issues as has been flagged by the party chief himself. 

The Rio government has come under tremendous criticism and hence 'pressure' from multiple quarters in last few months. 

The imposition of President's Rule in Manipur and appointment of Amit Shah's trusted former Babu, Ajay Bhalla as the Governor, also has made Centre's intention clear. 

All militant groups and others in the state of Manipur will in next few weeks come under pressure as army operation is likely to be intensified. 

Governor Bhalla had given time to all groups and other concerned quarters to surrender looted and illegal arms and ammunition and the deadline expired on Feb 27th.  

As of now it is still not very clear;  but Chingwang is unlikely to draw an independent line for himself vis-a-vis Chief Minister Rio.

In fact, when Chingwang floated NDPP, it was well known that Rio was providing him moral, political and other necessary support. And both have enjoyed good rapport "like husband and wife", as Chingwang had said in the 1990s in the context of pradesh Congress chief (that is himself) and Chief Minister (that is Jamir).  

Can Chingwang - who also hails from ENPO region - be a new trump card for protagonists in Delhi ?

That's another question.

ends