Pughoboto seat row and flip-flop on NSCN-IM threat bogey:
NPCC President K Therie said that “it was not intimidation but was a directive from NDPP High Command, I believe.”
“The directive was perhaps to award NDPP ticket to NDPP MLA and not give the constituency to BJP. Since NDPP has lost its authority to protect its MLAs, he was crying before the Union Home Minister at least to save Pughoboto A/C," Therie went on to say.
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| First Assam Rifles : Moved from Aizawl to Kohima (Nagaland) |
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| Therie |
BJP exploring friendly contests 'beyond 20'
"Opp leaders may demand NIA probe into NSCN-threat bogey"
(also used in 'Nagaland Page' )
New Delhi
In a move that would leave friends and foes shell-shocked, the BJP may explore
the possibilities of 'friendly contests' in half-a-dozen seats in Nagaland.
"Friendly contests are not alien to electoral politics. This is no violation of the coalition Dharma too," an insider suggested.
The speculation about such a move by the saffron party has been kicked off after the 'flip-flop' manner displayed by the NDPP leaders as well as a few BJP leaders on Jan 19 while finalising the seats share talks in Delhi.
The BJP Parliamentary Board and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may finally take the call, many say.
Already the NSCN-IM threat to a 'powerful NDPP office bearer' vis-a-vis Pughoboto seat has left the NDPP leadership red-faced. Top guns in BJP as was expected has not taken things lightly more so because a senior north east leader was supposed to have been 'presiding over' the deliberations.
Moreover, one BJP office bearer who has in the recent past showed indulgence to a group of saffron party ticket aspirants had reportedly "left" the meeting before the deliberations were complete.
"It was worse that an office bearer of a ruling party in Nagaland allegedly made such remarks in the presence of two stalwarts holding constitutional positions that have not gone well with higher ups," a source said.
Nagaland Home Minister and BJP floor leader Y Patton was also in the meeting.
The central agencies from time to time have been feeding the Government of India about "ministerial sponsorship" in the Nagaland insurgency saga.
"It is presumed some opposition leaders in Nagaland and at the national level
including from the Congress may now raise the NSCN-IM-threat bogey with the Government of India formally and demand a NIA probe," the source told 'Nagaland Page'.
Top guns in the government and the BJP have not taken things lightly and a Union Minister from one of the north eastern states (not Nagaland obviously) was consulted by a few of those who are in the know of things.
Sources said 'Neta-ultras' nexus is a subject Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised time and again in meetings with DGPs and security agencies from time to time. During the stint of L K Advani and Rajnath Singh as Union Home Minister(s) -- dossiers were "prepared and updated".
NSA Ajit Doval had also taken up the matter at his level in the past. R N Ravi, a former IB sleuth and former Nagaland Governor, too was aware of the menace and in 2021 had raised the bogey of 'extortion'. For all practical purposes, Ravi had suggested that the rampant extortion racket had the blessings of the so-called Neta-underground influence.
In fact, Ravi's relations had gone sour with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio since then. The NSCN-IM also
had claimed that as a group operating for the 'Naga movement' it had the right to 'collect taxes'.
For the Pughoboto seat, a general line has been pushed by a section of political leaders: if the seat
is ultimately taken away by the NDPP, it would make it clear that there was 'external pressure'.
The NDPP also wants Chizami seat in Phek district and the saffron party leaders from Nagaland and also Delhi view this as a "deliberate ploy" to prevent BJP's entry into the Tenyimia belt.
The BJP ticket aspirant for Chizami, Kevechutso Doulo certainly deserves another shot at the goal post, is the refrain of some sections. In 2018, Doulo lost the seat by a narrow margin of only 403 votes.
Kezhienyi Khalo of NPF had won the seat and the BJP camp claims "strategically" the sitting MLA may back the saffron party nominee this time if he does not contest polls himself.
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| Nagaland CM Rio |
The Saturday evening development wherein NDPP leader and former Minister, Imkong L Imchen resigned as legislator has only fuelled the speculation that he is still keen for the BJP ticket.
So are a few more Ao leaders from Mokokchung district including Alemtemshi Jamir.
The former bureaucrat has a 'methodical' approach in his style and he also had attended the meeting with BJP leader Rituraj Sinha on Jan 5 in Dimapur.
The appointment of his wife and former Chief Secretary of Nagaland, Banuo Z Jamir, as the Lokayukta has raised all sorts of speculation.
"The roles a Lokayukta can play or rather should play are well known. Hence there is speculation and also high expectation," a source remarked.
All these have perhaps forced a section of BJP poll strategists to opt for 'friendly contests' strategy.
"This way the 20:40 alliance is also honoured and the BJP can keep the morale of the karyakartas high. It is a matter of fact that despite winning only two seats in Meghalaya, our party is going solo.
But in Nagaland all sorts of reasons have been suggested despite the willingness of the cadres to get the extra bite of the cake," a source said.
"We are fighting for only 20 seats in Nagaland. Why ? Guwahati cannot undermine
the political aspirations of Nagas to back the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the source explained.
The protest by BJP workers from Pughoboto on Jan 20 was only a tip of the iceberg and any minister or the chief Minister(s) of neighbouring states will do well to understand these.
ends
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| Veteran Jamir: Key player as always |
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