Long years of power and 'God blessed' prosperity might have lulled him to sleep.
But Neiphiu Rio still remains a cautious politician.
According to NDPP sources, Rio told a crucial meeting of NDPP - central executive board that the move for merger with the NPF is being done transparently.
"We have kept Amit Shah informed.... told him during the July 19 meeting in presence of likes of T R Zeliang and Y Patton that we are moving ahead with that move. As an ally the BJP must know ....
"Tai eku reply dia nae (Shah did not respond)," Rio told his party colleagues.
Playing Games - Angami style
A cautious mover that he is - the Nagaland Chief Minister has kept two other BJP leaders informed - Himanta Biswa Sarma (who had helped and bailed him out in the past especially handing over the undeserving 40:20 seat share ratio for 2023 polls) and also BJP-in charge of north east Sambit Patra.
Himanta seemed to have endorsed the merger when he said -- the NDPP and NPF coming together - "You can of course check Congress".
This statement is not related to ground reality as on the ground for all practical purpose the Congress is already under check.
Congress state unit president and Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir is more committed to the NDPP and even its dream projects like the 'imaginary airport' in the hills of northern Angami.
But politically Himanta has given a good excuse to Rio to make use of it when necessary. NDPP-NPF merge to check Congress.
Jairam Ramesh may understand or may not. But we can always have some fodder to laugh about.
Of course Rio told his NDPP colleagues including ministers that he does not want to so anything "lukai kena".
Instead; there are chances NDPP-NPF merger and Rio getting hold of the Cock symbol may weaken the BJP further.
K N Sekhose, senior social activist and former president of Angami Public Organisation (APO), says - "Rather I feel; the NDPP-NPF merger may strengthen the Congress party in Nagaland".
In 2013 assembly polls - the NPF had put up the best show winning 38 seats on its own. But at the meeting (last week); Rio reminded many key leaders that disunity around the time and later after he moved to Delhi as MP were unwarranted.
"Our NPF offices were vandalised and burnt in Kohima and Dimapur," he recalled.
"We are doing the merger process in a transparent manner," Rio reportedly said -- also adding -- "Naga nimitey kaam koribo".
But what might be bad news for NCP MLAs (who most enthusiastically merged with the NDPP) and two NPF legislators Küzholüzo Azo Nienü and Bhandari member Achumbemo Kikon -- Rio said there would not be any shake up in cabinet or in the chairmanship of PSUs and other such posts.
"If BJP wants, they can do it...," he clarified.
Rio maintained while working for the re-united NPF; the leaders and party workers should feel 'happy and proud' about it.
Trying to justify the merger move he said the pressure has been mounted on him not only from the NPF but also from other public leaders and churches.
Rio also said given the present trend in Indian politics; the BJP-led NDA will again come back (2029).
"We cannot displease Delhi and we have to be an alliance with the BJP even in future".
But he claimed with this merger - "Our (state's and politically also) the bargaining power will be more "
"We will be more respected .... It will be more beneficial for our state," he said.
Rio tried to offer a new image of himself at the meeting. He tried to give a message that he has 'sacrificed' in the past when in the 1990s to help Vamuzo as the chief minister.
The fact of the matter is Rio was most displeased legislator those days and he hated being called a NIDC chairman.
Rio along with Chubatemjen would meet Vamuzo from time to time and would even complain 'little loud' -- "You cannot frame me" (for declining to make him a minister).
Chubatemjen did not mind much as around that time - his sole purpose was to keep S C Jamir out of power.
Chubatemjen would also joke: "Today Chief Minister Vamuzo has met all the NPC MLAs (meaning only two of them)".
That was the period - Nagaland had only 45 MLAs functioning as 15 others were disqualified by Speaker Thenucho.
Puzzling reference to 'retirement' -- Is it a sympathy card ?
Certain things he had said that day had double meaning.
One such phrase was - 'ama khan toh retire holey bhi ....".
Is it the remark of a Chief Minister -- whose public image even among best of his admirers has been that he is allegedly "power hungry".
It is this fact that has actually 'delayed' the Solution.
The status quo club reflects a unique combo of 'state power' at Kohima and other stakeholders in the peace talks.
Protagonists like the FNR only have side roles and to keep the people lost in dreams about mirage.
If Rio is sincere or even thinking a bit about retirement - he should give the decisive push for a Solution.
And by mid-September (2025); if he wants it -- the goal is reachable !!
More than the 'merger' politics -- which common voters understand better.
He and his 'merger lobby' and Mani Shankar Aiyar (local version) probably under estimate people's intellect.
Nevertheless, Rio should work for a Solution.
Instead - and unfortunately - so -- apparently A K Mishra's remarks that 'Nagas should unite' for an earlier Solution is also being used to justify the NPDD=NPF merger !
As a former friend - who often displayed trust in some of us - one only feels some kind of an irrational sympathy for a man -- who will go down the history as a Chief Minister in multiple stints -- but who could not leave a healthy legacy.
ends
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