Nov 20, 2025; Bihar made history.
The state has Backward Class/Castes, Other Backward Castes and also Extreme Backward Castes.
Several chief ministers joined PM Narendra Modi to attend the grand ceremony at Gandhi Maidan. So did one of my 'extreme' favourite chief ministers.
No prize/room for guessing. Yes; that's Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
After the swearing in ceremony, Rio tweeted: "Had the honour of attending the swearing-in ceremony of Shri Nitish Kumar Ji as the CM of Bihar.
Congratulations and best wishes for a successful tenure. I also extend my gratitude to the Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji, whose leadership continues to drive progress for all."
(A galaxy of opposition leaders are irked by Modi's track record.)
Well; the subject matter is not Narendra Modi.
It is also not my tales of friendship between a powerless blogger and a powerful regionalist doyen Mr Rio. The issue is more grounded. Let us take a closer look at the issues those gave such a landslide mandate to BJP and JD-U.
The strike rate of the Lotus party was sensational --- 89 seats out of 101 it contested. Come back to Nagaland - the fiefdom of the NPF.
In earlier avatar; the party was called NDPP. It was still under a towering leader called Neiphiu Rio. In 2008 - BJP's strike rate in Nagaland was 12 seats out of 20 it contested. That is 60 percent.
The Lotus party - thanks to machinations of Himanta Biswa Sarma and 'friend' Rio - again contested 20 seats in 2023. The saffron outfit picked up again 12 seats. In 2023; NDPP contested 40 - won 25 and in 2018 it was worse - the party could win only 18. That was only 45 percent strike rate.
It was Shurhozelie's mishandling and T R Zeliang's sheer arrogance that the BJP aligned with NDPP and formed the government in 2018. Rio's career was revamped and rebuilt.
Deliberately we did not talk about Ram Madhav's friendship here.
Among the issues that dominated poll scene in Bihar -- one issue that is not being spoken much -- is the Total Liquor Prohibition.
It may be still 'wrong' or erroneous to suggest that high women participation in the voting is only due to Rs 10,000 cash flow. The Liquor Prohibition Act is generally considered a success story in Bihar.
I hope Rio will again make a visit to Patna and take 'ideas' from Nitish Kumar on how to make Total Liquor Prohibition a grand success in Nagaland. As far as Nagaland goes; the law was enacted by the S C Jamir-led Congress government under utter pressure from the influential Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC).
We had covered the prohibition demand movement quite elaborately and often argued with the NBCC leaders including the then general secretary, NBCC; Pongsing Konyak. One issue of argument was also based on 'innocent' queries from Late Yanger Thakkar, the then Press Trust of India (PTI) bureau man in Kohima -- "What will I drink if there is prohibition ?".
There were many other compatriots of Yanger. Late P P Rai and Late Lelie Legisie. Some others too -- a few survived that era. I was genuinely a Bengali middle-class boy who only took Pork Momo and Lotha pork curry rice.
My experiment with alcoholism started much later in 2008 - incidentally after my father-in-law expired.
Well again; the issue is more serious.
We may believe Prohibition is a bad idea - a backdated one and bound to fail. I have written enough pieces on the subject related to Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat.
Bootlegging follows wherever there is Prohibition. But it is also a fact that in Nitish Kumar's Bihar -- the law against Liquor consumption has been implemented to the best of ability perhaps.
The women voters in the state irrespective of castes and even religions in general have welcomed the Prohibition law in Bihar.
Domestic violence and incidents of hooliganism against women on the pretext of alcohol influence has nosedived in Bihar.
Hence they made a beeline on the voting day to exercise their franchise and reward Sushan babu - Nitish Kumar.
That's an opportunity; the Nagaland chief minister had.
That's positive part in the Patna trip for Rio.
Even in 2025; church leaders want Prohibition to succeed.
Next is humour and symbolism. That's how perhaps PM Modi and the BJP most often handle things.
That he was sitting next to Yogi Adityanath, UP's strongman in saffron attire, is quite a significant symbolism.
Probably Rio's seniority as the chief minister is counted. Rio is one of the senior most chief ministers in the country today. His innings started in 2003. Yogi himself became chief minister only in 2017. Others including Rio's counterparts from Maharashtra and Assam too are much 'junior'.
Now from my side -- Rio will be knowing it pretty well that once upon a time Bihar was 'jungle raj'.
Khushi- Khusi style .... !!
Here lies a problem area.
Neiphiu Rio's governance in Nagaland does not symbolise Nitish Kumar's or Yogi Adityanath's 'su-sashan (Good governance) definition.
This is also my area of deep concern as his 'sincere friend/dost' but a bitter critic at the same time.
Personally, whenever I criticise Rio on political issues and for not 'delivering' the Solution - I also grow nervous.
But the prospect of my solidarity with the pro-Solution issues and Naga people is also undercut by competition -- what will others say.
Patna's swearing in had another critical message. Rio should not miss that.
Lalu's "jungle raj" is not forgotten. His son could not be rewarded just in the name of a Yadav prince. Hence RJD was punished.
This is what I keep saying, sir .... Legacy. Why Mr Rio is ignoring this simple word?
If anyone could show the political class and a nation "betrayed" by Lalu-Rabri Yadav duo on how to defeat non-performance -- it is the Patna city and the Bihar mandate of 2025.
The word 'Bihari' may sound funny. But the voters in Bihar have shown -- they are politically more sensible and serious.
Legacy will haunt Rio, the NPF, Cock symbol and the people of Northern Angami and also the electorate of Nagaland for a long time.
ends
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