Right Talent, Right Place : Neiphiu Rio's community chessboard
New Delhi
The Rio administration has come under attack for allegedly promoting Tenyimia interests and ignoring the welfare of others. Radical critics call it 'tribalism', some moderates say this is part of one of the weakest links in Indian governance across the country - Nepotism.
Here we are with some datas and statistics. We are moving ahead with this although some skeptics say -- "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" ! In journalism, we are taught what Statistics 'hide' is the real news!
Of the 60 MLAs -- There are -- seven Angami legislators, four Chakhesang, one each Rengma and Pochurry and two Zeliangs. (15 Tenyimias --- also a strong bastion of regionalism)
# There is one Chakhesang Minister - Neiba Kronu; and of course Chief Minister Rio is himself an Angami and an old political warhorse from Kohima district.
# Rio's brother Zhaleo Rio is Advisor in-charge Minority Affairs. Zhaleo is a former IAS and represents Ghaspani II.
From the ENPO region -- there are seven tribes - Changs, Sangtam, Yumchunger, Konyak, Phom (Longlen), Tikhir (Shamatore) and Khiamniungan (Noklak).
Kiphire district has sizable numbers of Sumi, Sangtam, Yumchunger population.
There 20 MLAs and four ministers and also Deputy Speaker from ENPO.
Two Konyaks --
* Paiwang Konyak - Transport, Civil Aviation and Railways (BJP)
* Y.M. Yollow Konyak - Environment, Forests & Climate Change. He was elected on an NPF ticket and joined NDPP in February, 2022.
T. Yangseo Sangtam, Independent, was elected Deputy Speaker on March 19, 2022
S. Pangnyu Phom is BJP legislator and Minister for Health and Family Welfare. Another ENPO leader V. Kashiho Sangtam is Minister for Soil and Water Conservation, Geology and Mining.
## Tikhir is a newly recognised tribe and they got their new district in Shamatore on Jan 19, 2022.
There are six cabinet ministers from central Nagaland, NDPP sources point out,
Metsubo Jamir - Rural Development Minister - is also the brother of senior NDPP leader Alemtemshi Jamir. Tongpang Ozukum is Minister for Housing and paradoxically he had defeated Alemtemshi.
BJP chief Temjen Imna Along is Minister for Higher Education and Tribal Affairs.
The Ao community has 11 members -- 10 from Mokokchung district and one Dimapur II.
Sharingain Longkümer of NDPP is the Speaker since February 7, 2020.
In the central Nagaland, yet again, - the Semas/Sumis have seven MLAs from Zunheboto district and three from the politically hyper active Dimapur region.
Jacob Zhimomi is BJP MLA from Ghaspani I and is Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister. G Kaito of Jd-U and now NDPP is the Agriculture Minister and represents Satakha -- also a bastion of NNPG leader N Kitovi Zhimomi.
The Semas and Aos along with Lothas of Wokha district make as many as 25 MLAs and four of them come from the Wokha tribe dominated by Lothas.
NDPP sources pointed out that Lokayukta and DGP are from the vibrant and well educated Ao community. I Meyioonen is Lokayukta and is an Ao and so is DGP John Longkumar.
For quite a long time under Rio, Late Chief Secretary Temjen Toy - also an Ao.
Of course the present Chief Secretary J Alam holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Aligarh Muslim University.
However, reports suggest as he has been empanelled for appointment as a Secretary to the Government of India, chances of Alam's taking a central deputation is not ruled out.
After Alam, the senior most Babu under Nagaland government is Jyoti Kailash, Principal Resident Commissioner in Nagaland House, Delhi.
But for his personal reason, Mr Kailash can continue in Delhi only and in such a situation, Nagaland may get yet another chief secretary from central Nagaland/the Ao community.
Present Finance Commissioner Sentiyanger Imchen, Alam's batch mate, is likely to be elevated as the top most civil servant in the state.
Besides Late Temjen Toy, Alemtemshi Jamir too has served as Chief Secretary under Rio.
His wife Bano Z Jamir was also Chief Secretary. But individually, she is an Angami.
The NDPP sources also say that contrary to allegations of nepotism or tribalism under the incumbent dispensation, Chief Minister Rio "does not interfere much".
The Lotha tribe has four MLAs and is one of the important constituents of the Central Nagaland tribes. Lothas have one Minister (deputy CM Y Patton). .
NPSC chairman is -- W Honje Konyak, a former DC in Kohima
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'Two BJP leaders were given specific queries and only then.....'
Leaders like Modi and Amit Shah who slog for 20 hours on average 'hate failures'. They want to succeed in Nagaland as well.
New Delhi
The photograph of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the front row alongside Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and not very far from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah after NITI Aayog meeting on Sunday, Aug 7, has delighted the NDPP camp.
"Photo tu sabhi na ...- went the refrain in social media. The snap is actually following a protocol and nothing extra ordinary. But on the other hand, Rio detractors and especially irked by NDPP-BJP alliance are annoyed on the whole.
"India will be sharply divided like it was before the British invasion...," landed a missive on my mobile making it clear that a host of people are upset with the alliance and Rio continuing to get all the importance.
The displeasure among Rio-opponents is no longer hidden.
Vocal Congress leader K L Chishi has targeted both S C Jamir and his 'disciple' Neiphiu Rio for the same.
But what has triggered this platonic and a special 'love' between
regional NDPP and a ultra-nationalist BJP?
Time and again it is said that elections in northeastern states are decided chiefly by who rules in New Delhi. The 'double engine' concept of Prime Minister Modi also works best in these smaller states.
But the NDPP, in short, is Amit Shah's compulsion and not necessarily the first choice in the true sense of the term. Shah and other leaders were impressed with Rio in 2018 when within two months since the floating of NDPP and Rio's arrival into state politics; entire paradigm was changed.
PM himself patted Rio on back at Agartala during the swearing in of Biplap Deb Ministry.
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| a shy hard working Naga woman |
T R Zeliang appeared helpless despite winning 27 seats in the 60 member assembly.
Now in 2022, sources say the BJP leadership was not quite keen to embrace NDPP for a merger. One explanation being the saffron party's own cadres affectionately called Karyakartas would not be uncomfortable.
Most of the new comers would come only drawn by the magnetic pull of 'power factor' and that way it does not help BJP's presumed organisational growth.
The other explanation being a regional partner is always 'good' for a state like Nagaland - which is known as a hub of Christians - mostly preferring the American Baptists line.
For sometime, the central BJP leaders were toying with the idea of trying out with 'alternative leaders' to work more aggressively for peace and solution.
That required meeting NSCN-IM leadership and especially Thuingleng Muivah.
Two leaders were reportedly sounded and matters were discussed. But BJP leaders in Nagaland including several sitting legislators are only turncoats and neo-saffronites.
The absence of political will was palpable as none perhaps want to take the ultimate initiative.
There are risks involved. No one likes to be tagged 'anti Naga' for something which may not bring in expected results.
After these two leaders virtually opted themselves out; the central leaders came back to Neiphiu Rio.
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In this context though NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma apparently hurriedly tweeted on July 26 to steal limelight and 'credit'; perhaps more credit ought to be given to the persuasive skills of Neiphiu Rio.
The final decision on 40:20 seat share deal is also being attributed to Home Minister Amit Shah's style of functioning.
Both PM Narendra Modi and his comrade of many years Shah are 'hardliners by temperament'. The Gujarat watchers know that in general whenever these two leaders have been 'advised not to do something as a precautionary measure' as some risks would be involved; the duo either separately or collectively have always tried to catch the bull by its horn.
In Nagaland case, it's holding the Mithun by the head itself. It was a tough call, say those in the know of things.
The BJP also wanted to give a message that it is not against all allies.
All indications are that Rio would be expected to show results. Either that happens before August 15, 2022 obviously remains to be seen.
There are other issues on the table too. One is the strong anti incumbency mood in a state against NDPP where for long it has been stated that 'money power and gun-flexing' would decide election results. Even the 2018 poll outcome was no exception.
In may key segments the 'mandate' ultimately suited NDPP and more the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio himself.
Coincidence is often political bliss.
The results of voting in segments such as Pughoboto and Atoizu (in Zunheboto district) and Angetyongpang assembly constituency and Mongoya in the Ao belt were discussed and debated for long in 2018 itself.
In Wokha district too, the same 'influence' worked with their variations for different constituencies.
Some dynamics of 'tribalism factor' and even marital bliss are either not understood or simply ignored by Delhi's high command culture.
A section in the saffron party is also aware of party's commitment to give a clean government
and how matters are being 'cleansed' for instance in West Bengal.
Hence the unofficial whispering is -- if necessary the agencies will work even against friends and allies.
"We do not interfere in the works of these agencies," asserted Commerce Minister and Leader of the
House in Rajya Sabha when LoP Malliakrjun Kharge lamented that he was 'summoned' by the ED
when Parliament session is on.
But the BJP as a 'principled party' is trying to follow some planned thesis. For states such as Nagaland
and Jammu and Kashmir, national interest comes first and the Government of the day can decide
that better.
Of course, both PM Modi and his friend and aide Shah want a solution to the Naga issue. But they do not
want to follow the manner it was done in the past - both the Shillong Accord in the 1970s and
the statehood agreement of 1960 also called the 16 Point Agreement.
"You must compare the manner the BJP functions. The Vajpayee government created three states of
Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh and it was all peaceful transition. The Congress created Telangana
and thousands died both in the new state and also in Andhra Pradesh....So the mistakes of the past will not
be repeated," a source said.
This is making the BJP central leadership take more time and give more space and rope to all key players with regard to Naga issue.
The Chief Minister Rio too falls in that category and he has to keep his promise if he had made one --- with or without Himanta's magic wand.
The NDPP leadership also is understood to have gauged the general 'national' mood too well.
Rio is an experienced hand also in terms of handling 'New Delhi factors'. His anti-Congress stance is one asset from the perspective of those who matter in Delhi.
Moreover, there are over 30 constituencies where it is believed BJP's well known pro-Hindu tilt would come into play as soon as the NDPP alliance is broken.
Leaders like Modi and Shah who slog for 20 hours on average 'hate failures'. They want to succeed in Nagaland as well.
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