New Delhi
Around January 1998, former Chief Minister K L Chishi had said everything
is good about regional parties in Nagaland except that sometimes "we overdo
certain things".
This was in the context of Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) and Nagaland
People's Council (NPC) decision to boycott assembly elections and the move ultimately gave S C Jamir and the Congress party a cakewalk to power.
Things have come full circle now with several twists in the journey. Now, there seems to be a crying need for two regional forces NDPP led by Neiphiu Rio-Chingwang Konyak and NPF (under Shurhozelie and T R Zeliang ) to come together.
The NPF has virtually handed over the leadership of 'united regional forces' to Rio on a platter. "....there is a necessity for regional parties in order to effectively address the issues confronting our people", it said throwing an invitation to the Chief Minister.
The NDPP camp has reportedly decided to wait till March 10, when votes will be counted for elections in UP, Manipur and three other states.
If things go by calculation of some movers and shakers of Nagaland politics, Rio may even become 'president' of the united party or chairman of the united platform - replacing or further marginalising veteran Shurhozelie.
In Nagaland, the Angami or the Tenyimia block have been always sentimental about 'regional party politics'.
Thus even on these lines, passing on the baton from Shurhozelie to Rio (Northern Angami
I to Northern Angami II) would make some local relevance.
"As of now there is no hurdle to Rio's leadership. Even T R Zeliang as a pragmatic politician
has reconciled to this fact and he may at best bargain for a good portfolio like Finance in this
House or in 2023," a source told 'Nagaland Page'.
Some behind the scene conclaves suggest the entire focus of the NPF-NDPP 'united platform' politics
is guided by what happens in the next one month vis-a-vis the fate of the BJP in UP.
The NPF's internal assessment is that the Naga peace talks would not materialise, an idea the
NDPP backs - but will not commit openly.
The second takeaway from NPF analyses is that if BJP ends up with a poor show
in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, the so called 'Modi magic' will collapse
like a house of cards.
In such a situation, the Modi government will develop cold feet to open any major political and
administrative confrontation in the north east.
Some regional leaders from Nagaland are already in touch with Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee
and her party, presuming that she will be a chief contender to power after 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
"Between Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, as Naga leaders we will find the West Bengal CM a better
option," said one regional party leader.
A robust BJP riding on Narendra Modi's popularity in two general elections had made life tough for
the regional politics across the country and more so in the north east.
The 'Manipur model' of BJP wherein it dumped the NPP (of Conrad Sangma) and the NPF
has definitely alarmed NDPP and NPF.
In Manipur, the BJP is now contesting all 60 seats and eyeing a government of its own.
Top NDPP laeders have shared their anxiety with a section of BJP and NPF leaders on this.
Just when the going gets tough, the regional forces have been able to strike back in various
parts of the country.
Holding among them 123 seats in the 12th Lok Sabha or almost 24 per cent of popular vote-share,
regional parties lived through the best stint of ‘federalism’ in the 1990s.
Even in 2022, four regional parties – created after coming out of ‘parent’ Congress party – the NCP of
Sharad Pawar, Trinamool of Mamata, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress and TRC of K Chandrashekhar
Rao are now in power in as many states.
The road to the throne in New Delhi in 2024 will be decided largely by the outcome of what
happens in five states and especially on who really rules in Lucknow.
The first two phases of polls in UP are on Feb 10 and Feb 14. These will set the tone.
In Phase 1, elections are in the Jat or the agrarian belt. In Phase 2, polling will be held on Feb 14 in segments like Rampur and Moradabad where Muslims make up 50 per cent voters.
Never in the past, the Nagaland politics was as much linked to what a UP-wallah does.
ends
(Nagaland Page)
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