New Delhi
The propensity to go on and on -- right or wrong -- is a peculiar characteristic known to the Indian neta class.
Over the decades some Naga leaders have cultivated the same.
BJP floor leader and deputy chief minister Y Patton has lately walked himself into this trap. This trapping is his own creation more out of anger.
It may not be a proper call to defend him but some of his observations have 'takers' both in Delhi and in the state of Nagaland as well.
Extortion has been a major menace faced by the people for the last three decades now. Other threats and intimidations have made people frustrated and some anguish get reflected in the words and statements of political leaders of all categories and parties.
On many occasions, new NPF legislature party leader Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu also stated that the Naga public are fed up with extortion and other threats. But the phrase 'Go to hell' could not be taken very lightly and may even have some 'negative impact' on the BJP.
As a BJP leader Patton should have been more than cautious when he tried to focus his wordings around the peripheries of 'heaven and hell'. Nagas are religious and these words have Biblical implications.
Moreover, in any religion or a society following any social rule of law, no individual has the mandate to pass such adverse strictures or whether some body should go to 'hell or heaven'.
This statement would in no way help Patton push up BJP's cause - something he is seriously trying.
In another instance of tongue-in-cheek statement he has flagged off the menacing issue of tribalism.
In this context, the Chakhesang Students' Union has reacted angrily. It says Patton's remarks that Chakhesang community is more advanced than Aos, Lothas and Semas was "careless and irresponsible".
More debate is expected on these issues. But in no way Patton has again helped his party's cause.
Until recently, he has been playing his cards and politics well. In fact, he is the only BJP leader who has been flamboyant, firm and aggressively assertive at times taking on Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as well.
His 'snub' to Rio by rejecting the portfolio of Land Resources spoke good about Patton's grasp of the things. It was seen as a matured way of handling things.
But the last two statements were unwarranted and do not go well for a leader who wants to see the BJP flags go up in the hills and mountains of Nagaland.
Now we come to the next stage.
The only person who is smiling seeing Patton's faux pas is Chief Minister Rio. Temjen Imna Along as state BJP chief had earlier blundered by taking Amit Shah's name on the floor of the assembly. And now Patton's undesirable remarks.
The weakening of BJP in Nagaland by whatever reasons actually has no impact on Congress or even NPF in the state.
The peculiarity of Nagaland politics is such that It is directly helping Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
The NDPP camp thus lost no time in latching on to Patton's remarks and the video is obviously viral. The NDPP leadership now unhesitatingly would tell BJP central leaders -- who is more matured - your two state leaders or our gentleman-neta called Neiphiu Rio.
The BJP high command would find all these adding to the complexity of the problem it faces in guiding
the Nagaland unit.
The saffron party top guns are doing all kinds of consultation to change state unit leadership. On face value
the proposed move for a change is not unusual as the Lotus outfit always does these changes
on the eve of elections.
The lesson from Tripura should serve as some pointers for Nagaland BJP leaders too.
- That is, in the BJP's scheme of things - change is imminent on the eve of every election. Second important
lesson is from the sacking of Biplab Deb as Chief Minister -- that lady luck is crucial but it cannot take one
beyond a point.
BJP insiders say Biplab Deb often left the party red-faced. Once Deb while addressing a Civil Services Day function
had said, "After pursuing mechanical engineering one should not go for Civil Services. Instead, civil engineers should
join Civil Services as they have the knowledge and experience to help build administration and society".
The charge of incompetence against Deb is not entirely without merit.
Delhi journalist-circles know Biplab Deb as a shy boy from northeast, who actually was working for sometime
as an 'assistant' to a BJP MP from Madhya Pradesh.
In 2016-17 on the eve of 2018 assembly polls, Biplab deb was actually picked by RSS pointman Sunil Deodhar. This was the time when BJP hardly had organisational presence in the Marxists-bastion and hence Deb was chosen as a state unit president.
What follows later is history; but it has a few lessons too.
ends
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| Blogger in North East |
Who should be next BJP president in Nagaland ?
New Delhi
The BJP is set for an ambitious ad special march towards power in Nagaland. It is almost a golden opportunity and the real goldmine lies in political solution to the Naga political issue.
But it is also at crossroads as the emerging situation is complex and hence immensely challenging.
The Jaipur conclave of national office bearers and state chiefs was an indication that the saffron party has started planning for a life with Narendra Modi as the trump card for an hat trick in 2024. But for national and to a large extent even the international image; Modi needs convincing victories in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and also Mizoram that goes to polls in November 2023.
In all these, the BJP would require a suave and articulate state unit chief in Nagaland. Temjen Imna Along has been there for long and has baggage-- mostly negative.
He is an Ao and even central Nagaland as a sub region of Lothas, Aos and Semas does not show much enthusiasm about him.
A former technocrat Temsu Wati may try his luck from Mokokchung district.
There are other aspirants. Dr Sukhato Sema, Hurui Zeliang, K James Vizo and perhaps also Kevechutso Doulo.
The last among them Doulo was reportedly not aspiring for it himself but the high command has belatedly trying to examine his case as he hails from Tenyimia region.
Besides having someone with clean image and articulate, the central BJP now understands the importance of tribal game in Nagaland politics.
Neiphiu Rio being a towering Tenyimia and an Angami leader and so is NPF patriarch Shurhozelie, a section of leaders and advisors feel only a good organiser among Tenyimia leaders can play a gamechanger for the BJP.
A recent ground level assessment suggests the Tenyimia influence could emerge vital in three to four assembly segments in Dimapur-Chumukedima belt as well besides Zeliang region, Kohima and Phek districts.
Semas are looking towards solution and presume key roles would come to the community leaders- including a few new entrants who may enter state's electoral politics once final solution and a peace pact is inked.
The Government of India is doing it's own assessment and strongly feels the Core Committee and incumbent Chief Minister Rio will 'certainly deliver'.
But at the end of the day - a new BJP president would be expected to defend even the indefensible and also project certain facts of history in proper perspective.
Some stakeholders have taken the debate on Nagaland statehood and even the 16 Point Agreement a bit too far.
From New Delhi's perspective and also based on historical facts, it is true that the statehood of 1963 is a reality.
Even the proponents of 16 Point Agreement had tried for 'integration' of contiguous Naga areas. The Centre under Jawaharlal Nehru had said that these can be taken up under a democratic and political process.
Some of these issues figured during talks between R N Ravi and both parties- the NSCN (IM) and NNPG.
The refrain in the corridors of power in Delhi - perhaps reflected in Jaipur- is that a new BJP chief has to know all these in details and also have political confidence to articulate the facts of Naga history.
The mantle of leadership does not come in the BJP only to enjoy power and benefits of good office.
Even naming of 'Nagaland' has a history as around 1957 this part of India was called Naga Hills Tuensang Area.
Hence the BJP protagonists have to be political and this one quality is not found among many BJP leaders in the state. Most of them still believe in the old 'Congress culture' and presume that everything will be manageable once you are in a coveted office.
This makes a difference between Neiphiu Rio and T R Zeliang.
Zeliang allowed BJP to walk into the lap of NDPP displaying arrogance and political immaturity.
The BJP has been a party with a difference and hence leaders in this party are expected to be gutsy, with right political acumen and also committed to ideology.
Playing safe is not a virtue.
The party will soon have a new president and perhaps also an election management or campaign committee.
An effective strategy does not merely mean being opportunists. The BJP leaders in Nagaland need to learn being more committed, confident and importantly political.
Ends
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