[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he ongoing political impasse in the state is akin, if not, an exact replay of what (DMC) Dimapur Municipal Council elected Councillors experienced in 2005 election and the subsequent leadership change for four times in five years.
Out of 23 Wards, NPF bagged 18 seats in Dimapur municipal elections and only five seats went to Congress. With clear majority, the support of Congress was not needed by the NPF to elect the DMC Chairperson. However, within the NPF itself, two contenders came up for the post of Chairperson.Majority of the NPF Councillors were in support of one elected member but the other with minority support took the help of Congress and clinched the seat of DMC Chairperson in 2006. In 2007, the contender and his elected Councillors who had earlier commanded majority similarly took the help of Congress and unseated the Chairperson. Again in 2008, the first Chairperson unseated the second Chairperson and took the seat for the second time. In 2009, a new contender ousted the second time Chairperson and completed the term. Thus, in five years period, the Chairperson was changed four times. During the crisis in 2006, NPF President, Dr. Shurhozelie convened a meeting with all NPF Councillors but the crisis could not be resolved and the crack within NPF Councillors continued for a long time.Since the majority was never made to rule but sat like an opposition, the NPF Councillors supported the Congress in 2008 general elections and the NPF drew blank in all the five constituencies of Dimapur. However, heeding to the call of the then Hon’ble Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, the NPF Councillors again joined NPF and fought the 2013 general elections and won two seats in Dimapur.
In the House of 60 out of which 38 are NPF MLAs, 21 are in support of Kaito’s leadership while only 16 are supporting TR Zeliang. NLA Speaker remains neutral unless a tie comes up during voting. Similar to the DMC scenario, in the state assembly too, the person who has the minority support is still made to seat in the high power chair.
Does the NPF Constitution provide for the minority group to prevail over the majority as had happened with DMC in the past and as it is happening now with Zeliang as minority?
The internal crisis within the NPF could have been resolved long time back had the NPF President played a neutral role. But his partisan behaviour siding with the minority group has prolonged the impasse this far. In democracy, the majority always prevails over the minority but it appears that the democracy practised in NPF led by Dr. Shurhozelie recognizes minority as supreme.
The Governor, having summoned Special Assembly session slated for February 5, and the Congress appearing to be the game changer in the floor test, the picture is emerging to be similar to that of the DMC Chairperson election where the support of Congress was sought by minority. This case of a majority being reduced to minority can be avoided if the NPF President, Dr. Shurhozelie respects the ideals of democracy and recognizes the majority group. Otherwise, Democracy waits to be murdered in the floor of the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly on February 5, 2015. The views have been expressed in the interest of the NPF party and to uphold the principles of democracy.
G. Kits
Former DMC member
