Christian-based provincial parties in India pay heavy price for befriending Modi's BJP

Christian-based provincial parties in India pay heavy price for befriending Modi's BJP

New Delhi

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi suffered a setback in the country's general elections-- results of which came out on Tuesday, June 4. 

Modi time and again describes India as a 'mother of democracy'. The claim is always debated.

But on the other hand, one can say politics is ruthless. It is more so during elections when issues

involved are emotive -- like the religious rights of the Christians.

People of northeastern states and especially three Christian-dominated states 

Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram represent a dichotomy.

They wanted to punish a political party, BJP, its mentor RSS -- known for alleged anti-Christian

 policies and intent and ultimately the sword of people's anguish fell on Prime Minister Narendra

Modi and also on 'local regional heroes' and regional parties.

In other parties, provincial/regional parties catering to linguistic, ethnicand religious (read Christian) aspirations of tribals had to pay a price forbeing friendly to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) --- which is otherwisewedded to Hindutva (the Hindu first) political ideology.

In Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) nominee Chumben Murry was humbled

by Congress candidate Supongmeren Jamir.

The Congress does not have a single MLA in the state legislature for two consecutive terms

(2018-2023) and also (from 2023 - that is the present House). But that did not prevent Supong's

win.

"It is an unexpected outcome... People were angry with the BJP and they punished NDPP

but went on to reward Congress which does not have adequate organisational strength,"

remarked one senior Nagaland-based politician on the condition of anonymity.

But everyone agrees - the 'hands of God' worked. That means the influence of the Church orsome skeptics even called it divine intervention.

Grapevine is even the Congress party did not take the election seriously and Supongmeren Jamir,a former leader of Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and state Congress president, was fielded becausesomeone had to be fielded.There are talks that one former Chief Minister was offered to contest the polls even at the last day and as he was reluctant; Supong said he would accept the challenge.

"I am grateful to God and the people of Nagaland," Supongmeren told his party colleaguesas the news of pleasant surprise went viral.

In Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party suffered the brunt of people's anguishin both the constituencies. 

Saleng A Sangma of Congress polled 3,83,919 votes and could defeat Chief Minister Conrad's sister

and sitting MP Agatha Sangma by a margin of 1,55,241 votes in Tura. Agatha is daughter of Late P A Sangma, the former Lok Sabha Speaker and onetime doyen of northeast politics. 

Between these two candidates, there was a third important player too -- Zenith Sangma of Trinamool

Congress who polled --- 48709 votes. 

In the prestigious Shillong seat, NPP nominee Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh 

finished third. Her being the Health Minister in the Conrad ministry also did not help much.  

 

Dr Ricky Andrew Syngkon of newly floated Voice of the People Party (VPP) won the

prestigious Shillong seat and his nearest rival was sitting MP and a senior Congressman

Vincent Pala.

The victory margin was 3,71,910 votes.

The biggest win for Congress came from Manipur where Meitei-Kuki clashes

in circa 2023 had hit BJP's reputation hard. It also hit PM Narendra Modi's claims

over 'double engine' governments -- (one govt in Delhi and the state government also run by the BJP).

The worst part was BJP's and federal Home Minister Amit Shah's categorical rejection of demand for replacing Chief Minister N Biren Singh. "We will not remove him, he is cooperating with

the centre," Shah had said in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Pariiament) during the No Confidence Motion debatein August 2023.

In Inner Manipur, A. Bimol Akoijam of Congress won the prestigious seat -- a hub of

Hindu Meitei people and his nearest rival was state Minister and BJP candidate Basanta Kumar.

From Outer Manipur -- dominated by Tribals - Nagas and Kukis -,

Alfrred K Arthur of Congress wrested the seat from BJP's ally, Nagaland People's Front (NPF).

Arthur humbled NPF nominee Kachui Timothy Zimik, a former civil servant, by a margin of 83118 votes.

In Mizoram, the state's ruling party Zoram People's Movement candidate Richard Vanlalhmangaiha won the seat

defeating BJP' ally MNF candidate K Vanlanvena by a margin of 68,288 votes.

In November provincial polls, the Mizo National Front (MNF) was ousted by the ZPM and chieflythe ethnic violence in Manipur was the issue.Kukis of Manipur and Mizos share ethnic bonds. 

Here Congress nominee Lal Biakzama had finished third by polling 98.595 votes.

Analysts say burning of churches in Manipur in the name of ethnic clashes between

Kukis and Meiteis in 2023 has done the damage to both the BJP and its allies such as

MNF, NDPP and NPP.

Time to perhaps also examine closely; what went wrong for BJP and Narendra Modi, himself a good reader 

of people’s pulse.

The BJP’s ‘excessive obsession’ with Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Manipur is also one reason

for the poor show for itself and also its allies in Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and also Mizoram.

However, in the large state Assam, the BJP won nine seats and regional parties UPPL and AGP won one each

while the Congress tally was three.

According to analysts besides the violence in Manipur, the BJP government in Assam had lately piloted a 

controversial Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024.

This episode also alarmed Naga Christian legislators including from BJP.

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly, cutting across political lines, expressed concern over 

Assam government’s move to make healing practices a crime through its new legislation.

Initiating the discussion, deputy chief minister of Nagaland T R Zeliang (NDPP) emphasised that it would 

be the duty of Christians to stand up for their faith and beliefs, particularly at a time when their very 

existence was being threatened.

He and other members had claimed that the freedom to preach, practice, and propagate Christianity was 

guaranteed by the Constitution of India, irrespective of the majority or minority status of Christians 

in any state. 

They pointed out that the Right to Freedom of Religion enshrined in Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian constitution 

upheld the principle of secularism.

A Christian group in another northeast Indian state Arunachal Pradesh had declared support for opposition Congress Party candidates in the national polls.

The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) in an April 3 circular urged all its member and denominational organizations to “extend full support and work for” Congress candidates Nabam Tuki and Bosiram Siram, who contested  against the BJP’s sitting parliamentarians from the two constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh state.

Earlier this month, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), an influential church body in the state, outright rejected an offer by the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to include church compounds among the places to be covered by the party’s cleanliness drive on May 11.The NBCC stated the BJP should instead mobilise party members to safeguard 'persecuted churches' elsewhere in the country.

Reports state, more than 395 churches were razed or burnt down, over 5,600 – 6,500 houses plundered or burnt down, over 600 villages ransacked and more than 60,000 – 75,000 people left homeless. 

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