[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he expected has happened. Tension has been brewing within the DAN-III government ever since it was formed some seven months ago. The choice of chief minister TR Zeliang in connection with the induction of legislators into his ministry is said to be the principal cause of the trouble. This newspaper first broke the story in the first week of November last year. Intense ramification and reactions followed. For the Hornbill Festival and the Christmas season things became quiet. However, observers had predicted that serious political upheavals would be witnessed after the New Year celebration. And so it is. Nothing surprises anyone.
One interesting aspect has been the swiftness of the political development that had unfurled in eight hours. Our office received information that at around 4 pm on Monday G Kaito Aye was elected as the leader of the NPF Legislature Party while former Home minister Imkong I Imchen was named as the spokesperson of the group during a meeting in Dimapur. Two hours later, a strong reaction was taking place in the state capital. Six Parliamentary Secretaries and two Cabinet Ministers were dropped by the Chief Minister for their rebellion. By 10 pm of the day this office received information from Raj Bhavan saying the ‘Governor has accepted and approved’ the dropping of the two Cabinet Ministers.T R Zeliang’s ploy of dropping the two senior Cabinet Ministers and the six Parliamentary Secretaries was nothing but an act of allurement to those NPF legislators (now supporting G Kaito Aye) lobbying in the past seven months for cabinet ministerial berths. This is a common trap of political stalwarts witnessed mostly in the 1990s. Whether this yesteryears’ game of politics will work for Mr. Zeliang time can only speak.
Now, more things will unfurl in the days to come. The dust will not settle that quickly. In the event of any new ministry formation situation will rear its ugly head as the tussle among the politicians for meaty and fatty portfolios is bound to happen. There is no permanent foe and no permanent friend in politics and anything can happen at any moment. Therefore, it is too early to write off anyone at the moment.
