A date with History ::: ... 'Frontier Nagaland' to have autonomous Authority covering six districts in Eastern Nagaland
Nagaland Assembly passes FNTA Bill
Eastern Naga children on a 'security Dept vehicle' :: Near Oting, Mon district
Speaking on the Bill, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said on Thursday that it has been "sincere" endeavour of his Govt that no community or region was "left behind" in the developmental journey. He maintained but "due to combination" of geographical challenges and historical factors"; the the six districts of eastern Nagaland have "long suffered" from development deficits.
Rio first came to power in 2003 and has been in office since then for long. Barring a brief spell of President's Rule on the eve of 2008 assembly polls and during his stint as Lok Sabha MP between May 2014 to March 2018; he is at the helm of power.
On Sept 3 (Thursday), he lamented: "Despite being rich in resources and human capital, these areas have not been able to keep pace with the progress witnessed in other parts of the state".
Seven tribes - Konyaks, Sangtams,
Changs, Phoms, Khiamniungans,
Yimchungrus and Tikhirs are native communities from this region.
Mon district in ENPO region suffered floods in 2026 also
Nagaland's longest serving Chief Minister maintained - "Through this Authority (FNTA), we seek to bring about comprehensive and inclusive development, bridge the development gaps and take governance and development right to the doorsteps of every citizen, particularly those residing in the remotest corners of our state".
Rio maintained: -- "This is not just an administrative arrangement, but a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to ensure equitable development, unity and progress for all sections of our people".
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| Grand Survivor Rio |
Earlier, the state assembly was supposed to pass the Bill in July. But at the last moment things were deferred. Explaining on these, Rio now says --- "The provision of conferment of legislative powers on the FNTA through a state legislation in the way as envisaged in the MoA was recognised as a matter requiring further clarity...".
However, there remains a catch. In July, 2026, the state government argued that it does not "possess the legislative competence to delegate powers equivalent to its own or to transfer a legislative authority to another body or authority." (DIPR, Nagaland)
But, come Sept 1 (or Sept 3rd) - how the power has been sanctified by some divine or political power remains unexplained.
Did the NPF-BJP dispensation try to avoid granting 'legislative powers' to the FNTA -- is a question whose answer lies in the womb of time.
"I can explain everything in a book after my retirement," jokingly remarked a serving bureaucrat.
What will be the BJP's politics in Nagaland in the coming 2028 election now is another matter of more than mere academic interest.
Will the Lotus party go for the kill and contest all 60 seats in Nagaland the state ?
The 20 assembly seats from Eastern Nagaland may easily come to the kitty of the saffron outfit.
But there are wheels within wheels.
The Chief Minister Rio and his NPF party still hold some cards to play - at times in a veiled manner and also openly. One is -- BJP's strong pro-Hindutva image and hence they may still need a regional face (Christian) to garner votes for the alliance.
Secondly, Congress MP, Supongmeren Jamir may oblige chief Minister Rio "in indirect" politics and help bring back Vande Mataram issue in public debate.
Former BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao has in an article suggested that the Vande Mataram is a property of the Congress party and is essentially a 'political song' related to freedom struggle with no religious overtones.
The politics around is basically to eye Muslim votes.
There are also other issues such as the ILP, which a few organisations (taking diktats of politician bosses) may play up forcing BJP to re-strategise electoral roadmap for Nagaland.
Politics will be played and the 'party with a difference' has been more than 'kind and generous' towards Rio for reasons which have been hardly explained.
The return of Ram Madhav is another factor that the political analysts are closely keeping eyes. During his last tenure Ram Madhav had clearly helped Rio return as the Chief Minister in 2018 and in the process helped him revive his political career.
By the end of 2017; the duo of T R Zeliang and Shurhozelie had almost ensured ejection of Rio from state politics. But the Northern Angami-2 legislator and a former disciple of veteran S C Jamir knows how to survive the stormy weather.
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| Blogger: Chief Minister Rio's guest for Hornbill Fest, 2018 |
ends
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