Unknowingly, the NSCN-IM might have helped in a big way 'revive' the political career of two Meitei leaders in Manipur - O. Ibobi Singh and N Biren Singh.
(Is it also feasible that the socio-political drama and dance can nudge the Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and the NDPP-BJP dispensation in a more equitable direction on the road to the final peace deal ? )
Anybody has the right to visit his or her native village.
If that's something like last wishes of an aging person; it ought to be respected.
In fact, Thuingaleng Muivah should have visited his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur more than a decade back when Ibobi Singh was the Congress chief minister and P Chidambaram - the Union Home Minister during the UPA stint.
But now the proposal or a plan coming in August 2025 - obviously the timing is curious. The intent has been shared with a section of media. These are early days as the visit has been planned in October and lot of things will have to be examined including the possible reactions in Meitei strongholds Imphal valley.
One obvious political motive for such a plan can be linked to BJP's 'friend' NDPP expanding its footprints in Manipur in its present avatar or calling it NPF. In Naga politics another typical thing happens - when two parties merge there is a new name and symbol Cock/Rooster is protected as something close to the heart of the 'regional' Naga Netas.
"We are fighting cocks and proud about that...," Late Vamuzo, former Nagaland chief minister, used to say often.
Starting with UDF in the 1970s - the regional political identity in Nagaland has gone through different era and different stages as -- NNDP, NPC, NPF (When Neiphiu Rio and team deserted Congress before 2003 assembly elections).
The regional party in Nagaland with the cock/rooster as its symbol had for decades symbolized the spirited face of politics amid aspirations and hopes of the Naga people.
The NDPP was created as a platform in 2017 for party hoppers only when Rio knew that the Shurhozelie and T R Zeliang duo would make things difficult for him. The ideology does not matter much and hence the symbol Globe may be junked any day.
Cock will go crowing across Nagaland and the NPF very much exists in Manipur as a dependable BJP ally there too.
The bigger issue is 'leadership' and it will be dream come true for Neiphiu Rio to be chief of such a united 'cock-symbol party'.
Two incumbent NPF MLAs in Nagaland are supposedly too keen to oblige Rio. In 2023, when Shurhozelie stepped aside owing to his growing age; he applied his VETO power and delayed two things - the so-called merger and did not let Rio take over the regional baby.
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| Blogger with regionalist doyen Shurhozelie |
Muivah's visit to Somdal village would also mean a few other things.
-- A message to Meiteis and Kukis that Muivah as an individual still matters in Manipur politics vis-a-vis the Tangkhul population and other Nagas. This will have multiple layers and probably numerous ramifications especially given the kind of turmoil the state of Manipur is passing through.
-- The visit -- in general -- will rejuvenate the Nagas of Manipur.
-- It may be cleverly used to 'divert' attention from the 'growing influence' of 'rebel' NSCN-IM leader and commander H S Ramsan (also popular as Awo Hanshi) in the Ukhrul region.
Writing on the Wall: Ukhrul
One should note that former CM N Biren Sngh is not the first 'polarised' Meitei leader. Some years back O Ibobi Singh had outsmarted even the suave P Chidambaram, the then Home Minister and Thuingaleng Muivah.
The NSCN-IM general secretary wanted to visit his native village Somdal and PC (Home Minister) okayed the move on humanitarian grounds. A cool customer Ibobi during Delhi meet reportedly agreed about the plan but on return played up the Meitei people's most powerful card --
territorial integrity of Manipur and that -- if Muivah comes to his native village, that portion of land would be taken away by the Nagas.
The visit never materialised.
This time the move also comes at a time when Manipur Governor Ajay Bhalla will be shouldering the additional responsibility in Nagaland. That means Bhalla will have to pull up sleeves.
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| Bhalla being welcomed by CM Rio |
ends
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