Post-victory, What will BJP and Rio do to each other?
(also ran in 'Nagaland Page'
The winner takes it all and thus Team Rio will be more than pleased with their performance. They have also proved the prophets of doom and bitter cynics and media and NGO critics wrong in more ways than one.
New Delhi
The BJP has a 'winner-friend' and of course Neiphiu Rio is the 'winner' riding the now famous 20:40 formula.
Now of course the big question is how will they handle each other. The EC website by evening suggests BJP winning 12 - that means it has retained its 2018 tally. It certainly proves the point of scores of BJP karyakartas that the saffron party could have won much more had it contested more.
It's regional partner NDPP led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio could pick up 25 -- a significant jump of seven from 2018 figures of 18 but a drop from its mammoth 44-MLA strong legislative wing when elections were announced.
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| A trusted friend of BJP: Rio |
Seventeen of NDPP sitting MLAs were denied tickets. Several of them moved into multiple parties. In the ultimate, the new assembly could have four Independents, one - Janata Dal (U). The LJP (Ram Vilas) may have to remain contended with only two even as stalwart A Sukhato could avenge the embarrassment of being denied the BJP ticket and could pick up the prestigious seat of Pughoboto.
Rio played his best cards including a campaign by Himanta Biswa Sarma in Pughoboto.
The medico Dr Sukhato will be a man to watch in the new House even as he is a non-political individual in the strict sense of the term. The NPF has been humbled to the margins with mere two wins and the big surprise will be as many as seven (7) seats haul by the NCP and NPP - 5.
Another little known party in Nagaland, Republican Party of India (Athawale) could pick up 2.
The Eastern Nagaland has yet again surprised poll pundits and perhaps even others as
the mandate does not show the real anguish of the people against NDPP or the Chief Minister
Neiphiu Rio. One argument could be that Eastern Nagaland had complaints
against all successive leaderships and Chief Ministers and thus they did not want to punish
Rio specifically. Whether the presence of Chingwang Konyak as the chief of NDPP (though not with
much power as alleged) helped apply balm on people's anguish will have to be studied
in near future.
Thus, one takeaway is that the NDPP success in Eastern Nagaland has a different missive. Moreover,
the NCP did well in many segments humbling BJP and this could never be linked to
people's ungratefulness towards the saffron party leadership or its powerful and magnanimous
Home Minister Amit Shah.
Much to the pleasant surprise of many perhaps, the voters in Tehok overwhelmingly voted
for C L John of NDPP giving him a massive 78.55 percent (9232 votes) and his nearest NPF
rival C Kawang Konyak could poll only 18.4 percent that 2162 votes.
From Eastern Nagaland, in Tapi too Noke Wangnao of NDPP came out with flying colours.
The NPF nominee lost the seat by a margin of 82 votes only.
In Thonoknyu too, NDPP candidate Benei M Lamthiu won while Tizit was retained
by BJP's P. Paiwang Konyak, also a minister.
Naiba Konyak of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) won the Tobu seat while Tuensang Sadar-1
came to BJP's P. Bashangmongba Chang. In Tuensang Sadar-2, the RPI (Athawale)
nominee Imtichoba has the last laugh. In Wakching, yet again, NDPP's W.
W Chingang Konyak came winner with 58.56 percent of vote share.
Importantly yet again, NPP's A Nyamnyei Konyak, former Agriculture Minister, will
return to the assembly from Moka while NCP's A Pongshi Phom won the Longleng
seat.
In Aboi, C. Manpon Konyak Independent walked away victorious.
Mon - Y Mankhao Konyak of NCP, Noklak - P Longon also of NCP, Noksen - Y. Lima Onen Chang Republican Party of India (Athawale) and in PhomchingK Konngam Konyak of BJP came out with flying colours.
Armed with 25 MLAs of his own and friendly legislators from parties such as NCP and NPP and who all will be too keen to become ministers, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has a huge political advantage.
However, he will be careful not to disturb the bond with the BJP wherein this time he may have to oblige the Southern Angami II legislator Kropol Vitsu in the ministry.
Since 2003 ever since Rio became Chief Minister, both the Southern Angami segments have been deprived
of ministers. Moreover, Vitsu became the first Tenyimi BJP MLA.
In all likelihood, Y Patton will continue as BJP floor leader and deputy chief minister. But nothing
can be predicted about the saffron party's next move.
Going by statistics, Rio with his 25 MLAs and along with 4 Independents, 5 - NPP and 7 - NCP could easily
form a new government. But such a misadventure looks next to impossible.
On the other hand, a lot depends on how BJP central leadership works out their plans with Chizami MLA - K G Kenye (NDPP) -- who as Rajya Sabha MP in 2019 (then NPF) had voted in favour of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill. Political observers did not find much logic for the BJP giving away the Chizami seat from its quota for NDPP and Kenye.
In the process a sincere BJP footsoldier Kevechutso Doulo has been deprived of yet another opportunity to enter the state assembly. Doulo contesting on LJP (Ram Vilas) ticket finished second.
In Pughoboto, which had made news for all wrong reasons, Dr Sukhato could humble Y Vikheho
Swu of NDPP by a margin of 850 votes. If revenge is sweet is a saying, Dr Sukhato will be rejoicing
it this evening.
Of course for his part, Rio too will be rejoicing in his success in showing Shurhozelie and NPF their place. The turbulent days when Shurhozelie and T R Zeliang had tried to corner the Lok Sabha MP must be still fresh in Rio's memories.
The winner takes it all and thus Team Rio will be more than pleased with their performance. They have also proved the prophets of doom and bitter cynics and media and NGO critics wrong in more ways than one.
ends
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| Blogger with NPF chief Shurhozelie: "Did not wake up on time" |
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