Imchalemba defected; but S C Jamir used to be 'confident' of him

New Delhi 

Well, politicians are often like horses. The animal is prone to kicking. Netas
would defect frequently and much easily and as if nothing happened !

Imchalemba Ao proved to be one and he did so even without being a legislator.
Of course, in all fairness we ought to mention several others K V Keditsu, C Chongshen Chang, Tokheho Sema, and also my favourite debater and one-line puncher K L Chishi.

Hokihe with Rajiv: Hokishe later moved to BJP

He knows his 'weakness' and Chishi also knows how to explain that. In 2018 polls, he
joined the BJP, lost from the home constituency of Atoizu and again quit the saffron party to make home coming to the same old Congress. 

Clever that he is - Chishi calls it "experiments with trial and error". Is that not original and brilliant?

Nagaland Page - July 6, 2022

Even S C Jamir has changed party colours - from UDF to Congress - and so have veterans Chingwang Konyak and Late Hokishe Sema and also the likes of J B Jasokie.

Discussing Imchalemba appeared interesting as he did so without being an MLA - when the pressure, temptation and 'invitations' are always more.

That reminds me - Sedem Khamming as well. During 1990 turbulent days - he changed colours quite frequently. But he saved himself from being 'disqualified'; but once a court order came on 10 members; I rather foolishly asked Chishi, "What happens to Mr Sedem Khamming?"

"Even I am interested to know. What happens to Sedem Khamming is of academic interest," said Chishi.

Sedem Khamming was one of those 'simple and shy' politicians; and Vamuzo had made him Tourism Minister. Thus during Devi Lal's visit (as Deputy PM to inaugurate Yatri Niwas at Kohima not far from AIR complex), the onus was on Mr Khamming to deliver a welcome address. 

Such ironies happen once in a while. Sedem Khamming did not speak English without struggling (and always in his native ascent), Devi Lal was a Hindi fanatic to the core.

Imchalemba joined the NPC around June-July 1990 and made his intention clear to Vamuzo that for next parliamentary polls - he would like to do the honour to NPC.

Before the election came, Vamuzo faced a minor crisis sort of situation and rumours spread that some ministers would be meeting S C Jamir soon and the toppling game would begin. T Penzu - a former DIPR officer, was Vamuzo's Information Minister.

Imcha knew him well and so he promised Vamuzo he would 'fetch Penzu' and bring him to the party fold. Of course, Imcha kept his word and so when the election time came about in 1991, Vamuzo kept his word and Imchalemba Ao was his candidate.

This was the election Vamuzo fought too seriously and in Dimapur apparently more posters of Vamuzo were distributed than Imcha's. That had provoked Chalie Kevichusa to pen his powerful edit for 'Ura Mail' under the headline - "Hey Imcha looks like Vamuzo".

I interviewed Jamir before the polls and the Congress nominee was Shikiho Sema yet again. Shikiho had managed his ticket from the 'high command' quota and so Jamir was not quite enthusiastic about Congress' win.

To one of my queries, Jamir had said, - "Do not worry, Congress will come to power in Delhi and I am always confident of Imcha. I am happy he got an NPC ticket; he always wanted to serve as a parliamentarian".

Such statements are made from time to time. But this turned out to be prophetic within a few months. In between, here is something worth sharing too. Before the polls, I interviewed Imchalemba as the NPC candidate as well, and he sounded more NPC and a committed regionalist than probably most others in the party.

Sample this. "The present breed of Congressmen are not like Nehru and Shastri. They may speak a lot but we know what they are. Besides, the Congress position (at national level) is not that good". (Weekly Journal, Kohima) 

Jamir: Cowboy style in Younger days 

To another question, he said, no final decision has been taken whether NPC will support Janata Dal or the BJP.

He was again emphatic - "The only thing I can say is that we shall have no truck with the Congress".

Now, shift to 1992 April - imposition of President's Rule and dismissal of caretaker ministry of Vamuzo; Imchalemba was now 'officially still NPC' but he voted supporting the government resolution on dismissal of Vamuzo and imposition of PR.

There is yet another interesting tale. Because of inherent limitations of Nagaland journalism, this fact was never tracked properly. No politician spoke about Imchalemba's vote during the debate on President's Rule in Nagaland either.

We came to know this 'state secret' when Union Power Minister Kalpnath Rai visited Kohima in connection to

land compensation disputes of the Doyang Hydel project.

At the press conference at Japfu Ashok, Rai said, "Everyone is supporting us, even your local

MP supported the government during the debate on President's Rule". I asked, "Did he vote in favour?"

Rai responded in UP-style -- "Toh aur kya!". I still thought a NPC member might not have done so. I repeated my question - "Did he really vote in favour of PR?"

Rai lost his cool and shouted back, "Yes, everyone is supporting us and even you will support us one day".

I said - "Sorry sir, we are not politicians".

Rai was a bit annoyed but kept his sense of humour and said, "Arey baba, you press people are more dangerous. He (imcha) supported us, what type of ear you all have". 

Most of us laughed it out. 

Around the same time, during the then Union MoS Home M M Jacob's visit during the press conference at Raj Bhavan, Imchalemba was sitting next to the Union minister.

I asked, "So sir Imchalemba is it true you backed the imposition of PR in Nagaland and you are still a NPC MP?"

Imchalemba's polite response was - "I am a simple person, why do you want to make things complicated?"

When I narrated the stories to his sister Sunny Chuba (senior colleague in AIR, Kohima) and brother-in-law, Prof T Chuba. Between them, of course bro-in-law Chuba Sir laughed more. 

In the 1996 parliamentary polls five years later, Imchanlemba was now a Congress candidate and he defeated NPC's Khekiho Zhimomi. The victory margin was 1,97,503. 

Imcha had polled 472102 votes as against 274699 by Khekhiho and could retain the seat for himself to be Lok Sabha MP between 1991 and 1998.  

ends .