Nagaland polls: Little known Pughoboto makes news for wrong reasons

New Delhi

Elections have a tendency to throw up news -- often unusual ones - and also newsmakers. This time in Nagaland, where voting will take place on Feb 27, it is the little known assembly segment Pughoboto that has made news.

Pughoboto falls in Zunheboto district in the hub of the Sema tribe. The community forms numerical strength in the central region of the state and Semas as voters can easily influence election results in three-four assembly constituencies in Dimapur region besides seven segments in Zunheboto district.

Dr A Sukhato: BJP 

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In the run up to the assembly polls, reportedly Pughoboto figured prominently at the seat share talks held in New Delhi on Thursday (Jan 19) between key BJP and NDPP leaders including Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

In 2018, under the seat share agreement this seat was contested by the BJP. Dr A Sukhato Sema had contested the seat and Y Vikheho Swu of NPF had won the seat by a narrow margin of 70 votes only. Dr Sukhato is again aspiring for the saffron party ticket and has been working in the constituency. 

Swu shifted to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP and now the Chief Minister is under obligation to field Swu from the seat. There is yet another twist in the tale as Swu is a close relative of a prominent NSCN-IM leader.

As it is, Nagaland elections are being held under controversial circumstances and threats of boycott calls by some sections of Nagas in Eastern Nagaland.

The influential Konyak Union from Mon district has threatened to "permanently expel" anyone who will file nominations for ensuing polls. The eastern Nagas under the aegis of Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) has demanded carving out a separate state for the region.

Earlier the ENPO also had threatened to boycott the polls. Eastern Nagaland has 20 seats in the total 60-member assembly.

On Jan 19 (Thursday), BJP leaders met Chief Minister Rio and some of his colleagues for finalisation of seat share talks in Delhi. 

Reportedly differences surfaced on seat allocation of Pughoboto. Nagaland deputy chief minister and BJP floor leader in the assembly Y Patton insisted on increasing the seat shares to 25. His and other BJP leaders' argument being, in 2018 also the BJP had settled for 20 seats and hence it should be increased.

In 2018 polls, the BJP strike rate was much better than NDPP's. Out of 40 seats, the NDPP had contested; the Rio-led outfit could win only 18 seats while BJP had won 12 seats from the 20 seats it contested.

Seats like Pughoboto (A Sukhato) and Atoizu (former CM K L Chishi) were lost by BJP by narrow margins and certain allegations had surfaced in the past as well.  

The NDPP delegation rejected the demand for increasing the quota and reportedly sought for change of seats including Pughoboto and in that context Rio's lieutenant and NDPP secretary general Abu Metha allegedly made some remarks on 'threats'.

Many in Nagaland BJP and analysts are surprised at the central BJP's electoral strategies vis-a-vis Nagaland and Meghalaya. In Meghalaya, BJP has dumped its ally Conrad Sangma-led NPP and will go alone. The saffron party may contest at least 56 seats on its own. In 2018, BJP had won only two seats in Meghalaya. 

But in Nagaland, to the surprise of many, the BJP has settled for 20 seats whereas there were strong demands for at least making the partnership equal.

One prominent BJP leader says the argument that BJP is readily playing second fiddle to the NDPP in Nagaland because of Christian-Hindutva factor is not convincing as Meghalaya too is a predominantly Christian state. 

It is also whispered that Rio has made use of his personal friendship with a prominent north eastern leader to get things in his favour.

Nagaland Deputy CM and BJP leader Y Patton has said in Delhi on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity is the BJP's trump card in Nagaland polls. 

As the episode of reported fracas and controversial remarks on a militant body on Thursday meeting surfaced on social media and in a Youtube video, the NDPP leader Rio (Chief Minister himself) and his NDPP vice president R Longkumer issued a strong denial on Friday (Jan 20) saying the report in the video has "falsely claimed" that "NDPP secretary general Abu Metha has said in the meeting that he was getting life threats" vis--a-vis Pughoboto seat to be allotted to NDPP and not BJP.

"This is to clarify that such a statement was never made by the secretary general nor discussed in the meeting," the NDPP leaders say.

Come what may, it is the real election season in Nagaland and a lot of excitement is on cards.

In 1998, the NSCN-IM was in favour of boycotting the polls, this time their stance is not yet clear.

On the other hand, the umbrella group, NNPG is against holding of elections and has said that the centre should immediately honour the Agreed Position signed in 2017 between NNPG and the centre when R N Ravi was Nagaland Governor and negotiator at the peace talks.

Interestingly, on Jan 14, the NSCN-IM and the NNPG issued a joint statement pledging to work together for a solution with the Government of India. The statement declared their "unconditional commitment to collaborate on the basis of our respective agreements (Framework Agreement of 2015 and the Agreed Position of 2017) for the resolution of the Naga historical and political rights with Govt of India".

However, on Jan 18 shortly after election schedules were announced by the EC, the NSCN-IM issued a statement stating - "The Nagas do not acknowledge any agreements signed under the Indian Constitution".

This essentially negates the NNPG-NSCN(IM) joint statement of Jan 14.

The NSCN-IM issues denial:

ends 

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of books, 'The Talking Guns: North East India' and 'Modi to Moditva: An Uncensored Truth'. Views are personal)