The Tenyimia - Naga dialect - word for Cock or Rooster is -- Viidzii.
It's a powerful word politically associated deep with the 'pride of regional politics' for Nagas.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio started his political career as a youth activist with the UDF in the 1970s and the party symbol was Cock.
He moved to Congress and emerged blue-eyed boy of S C Jamir. He almost lost 1993 assembly election from his now strong bastion Northern Angami II. He had rushed to the then Chief Electoral Office the next day of counting.
Lalhuma was on the chair and he 'listened' to Rio's complaints against the Independent candidate R. Sopu Angami.
S C Jamir was the great ''fighter' of 1993 polls. With his Cow boy hat on, he had walked in with some political subordinates. Within minutes he was heard saying -- "I will handle all that".
When the final results came in; - Rio polled 5,411 votes against 4,311 by Sopu.
That was a refreshing beginning for Rio. He has not looked behind since 1993. It's pretty simple story of a soft-spoken gentleman politician. Jamir - the ex Chief Minister and ex-Governor of four states (including Gujarat) is now out of electoral politics.
Kewephape Therie, who alongside Rio, had deserted their political mentor Jamir, is also at a semi retirement stage. His last attempt was from Dimapur 1 in 2023 polls. But Rio has survived and thrived.
After Rio and Therie deserted Congress -- people say after learning all the basic tricks from 'guru' Jamir - the NPC was converted to NPF. The party chief much senior in age and in politics Shurozelie also joined the Rio cabinet.
Rio also knows how to conduct 'political business' well.
Since 2003 - he has been a friend of the BJP but never quite allowed its growth. BJP office bearers in Nagaland are more loyal to him (driven by factor of Love and affection of power politics) than they are loyal to Amit Shah or even PM Narendra Modi.
That may be true or may be one of those cruel jokes of politics.
Only a handful BJP legislators have the 'guts' to take on him when necessity may come. He has support of all other 59 MLAs -- NPP of Conrad Sangma or LJP and NPC (of Pawar dynasty) do not matter.
When troubled seemed imminent, Rio befriended Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The opposition-less political stage has created grounds for Delhi-based bloggers to play the role of a single-man opposition army.
Rio himself enjoys that. But loyalists may not appreciate all these.
In fact, NPC MLAs have already merged with the ideology of NDPP.
Now there are reports NDPP MLAs are chief movers for the decision to "merge" with the NPF.
Chingwang Konyak as NDPP president always takes pride in the fact that as a regional party his outfit (floated with Rio's blessings over phone from Delhi) has won two consecutive elections.
In 2024 - rather in a lighter vein, he had said : "Age is catching up with me Niren ... But I may continue to lead the party till 2008 elections".
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| Two Jamirs and one Dev !! |
But things are not in his hands apparently.
On Tuesday, Sept 2 - an important meeting took place and there is an agreement that the NDPP has decided to 'merge' with the NPF and take both its name and 'symbol'.
The NPF is a politically active outfit in Manipur. So the new NPF boss - post merger of NDPP - will have control over two MPs (one in Nagaland and the ouer Manipur) and some Naga legislators in Manipur.
Does it have any connection to the 'merger' move ?
The 'merger' move was initiated in 2023 as well. But veteran Shurhozelie knew how to use the veto power. Earlier in Feb polls (2023), Shurhozelie - the doyen of regional politics along with friends and senior colleagues Late Vizol and Late Vamuzo - got a bitter taste when his son was defeated by Rio's nominee.
But technicalities may still require sometime for the so-called merger.
The NDPP constitution says only a 'general body meeting or convention' can take a decision about the merger, Chingwang Konyak told his party colleagues.
Technically - three fourth of general body can decide about the dissolution of the party and two-third majority by voting can decide about a merger.
In this case - the counter argument is the NDPP MLAs "have raised hands" in support of the merger move.
Will this suffice for the general body nod - especially in a court of law if challenged - remains to be seen.
Moreover, a notice for general body meeting of the NDPP will be considered not valid if one month notice is not given.
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| Regionalist top-gun Shurhozelie |
Various other theories (and stories) are in circulation among pro merger protagonists in the NDPP.
A large section of church leaders and also those in Naga underground movement have reportedly favoured 'merger' because split in regional votes may not be good in the long run.
Answers to some issues and questions always lay in the womb of time.
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| NDPP chief Chingwang Konyak |
English writers say - A hungry pigeon or even a Rooster - given food at frequent but irregular intervals - dances and with erratic head jerks - only in the hope of summoning another morsel.
Politics need oxygen. Any takers ?
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