North East mandate offers key lessons for opposition parties

NPF in Nagaland and Trinamool's double standards exposed

New Delhi

Every election offers some lessons. The just concluded assembly elections in three northeastern states had some lessons for opposition parties. 

The just concluded polls while strengthening BJP in more ways than one could also expose the stark double standards of the Mamata Banerjee-led outfit and closer home the NPF in Nagaland. 

In Meghalaya, Mukul Sangma, former Chief Minister, would be today licking his wounds and lamenting his decision to join the Trinamool Congress. His party got the tag of 'Bengali party' in the state where insiders-outsiders issues are politically relevant.

Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek held large rallies and repeatedly assured mainly Khasis and Garo people that the TMC was not a Bengali party. Now comes the vital part and sheer opportunism and double standards.

'Nagaland Page'

Mamata Banerjee herself behaved like a 'super Didi' for Tripura from a bigger state West Bengal.

There were similarities between two states in terms of linguistic, cultural and other similarities.

Bengal-based TV media were well managed and publicity was ensured. In Meghalaya too, the media handled Trinamool with kid gloves and gave considerable space to Mamata Banerjee and her party colleagues. But the party failed to make any mark. It was expected as Tripura hardly has a large Bengali Muslim population -- who for long in West Bengal are Mamata's dedicated vote bank.

But Mamata's campaign in Tripura was utterly parochial and pro-Bangla type. “We feel at home here — our language, food and culture are the same,” she would say.

The Trinamool Congress also ignored the Tipra Motha party that seeks to cater to the interest of 35 percent of native tribal population. Tripura tribals have a distinct history and their own language, culture and customs --- importantly much different from Bengalis.

The TMC failed to open an account in Tripura and the vote share was 0.88 percent. In Meghalaya, Trinamool could win only 5 seats and the vote share stood at 13.78 per cent.  Moreover in Tripura in many segments out of only 28 it fought, the TMC candidates polled votes much less than the NOTA figures.

On so-called opposition unity at the national level, one important aspect needs to be highlighted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi came to Meghalaya and slammed the Trinamool Congress perhaps more than the Conrad Sangma-led NPP. The opposition seems to have been further divided in the just concluded polls.

Now, the Nagaland People's Front (NPF). Without the fighting spirit the fighting cocks typically looked like well domesticated and even 'henpecked' partner to the NDPP.

Post G-21 defection, this journalist has been repeatedly suggesting to veteran Shurhozelie to honour his own words - "We shall wake up on time".  He had made the remarks in August 2022 but helplessly just did nothing to implement those. 

Today, the biggest loser in Nagaland elections is the NPF. It lost prestige and perception war.

It is also important to note that the parties such as NCP (seven seats) and NPP (five) have emerged as key gainers though in its maiden attempt to fight assembly elections LJP (Ram Vilas) too has done well.

But these parties are just meeting chambers of party hoppers. To get Nagaland back to the right political track, it needs a strong opposition. The so-called opposition-less dispensation looks imminent because it suits the concept of loot for all.  Amit Shah should discourage this. 

  

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