Nagaland: Consultation on ‘opposition-less government’ underway

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 12 (EMN): The proposed “opposition-less government” in Nagaland appears to be taking shape after a lull, as consultation has begun between the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naga People’s Front (NPF) and two Independent legislators.

The consultation began more than three weeks after the NPF announced its decision to support the concept of an opposition-less government without any pre-condition in order to pursue early settlement to the protracted Naga political issue.

A reliable source informed Eastern Mirror that ‘discussions are still on and formalities yet to be completed’.

When asked if they were working on modalities to accommodate NPF into the ruling government and the time frame to complete the discussion, the source said it could be confirmed only after the deliberations are over.

Meanwhile, senior NPF legislator, Imkong L Imchen informed this newspaper that the political parties might sit together for more discussions and consultations after the Independence Day.

However, he stated that allocation of portfolio was “secondary” and that it was “premature” to comment on the sharing of Cabinet berths at the moment.

Imchen said that the move was to consolidate all the political parties for a unified voice to boost the ‘Naga political agenda,’ which according to him, was the primary and basic purpose behind the idea of forming an all-party government.

“Formation of the opposition-less government is only a necessary instrument to boost the agenda of the Naga issue further,” he said.

However, the legislator asserted that there were also other political parties outside of the state Legislative Assembly as well as civil society and concerned citizens of Nagaland, who needed to be reached out for further consultations.

While stating that the 60-member house was a common platform which had been legally constituted as an institution, Imchen asserted that the members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) “are not everything”.

As such, he emphasised on the need to seek the wisdom of the civil society and concerned citizens for any crucial decision. So, once all the 60 NLA members are “united”, Imchen advocated reaching out to the civil society and citizens.

He also asserted that the public has every right to know what the elected representatives were doing and that “it is our part not to mislead them”.

Maintaining that issues concerning the state are “complicated, delicate and sensitive,” he said “we have to move carefully”.

According to the legislator, the mood and temper of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio reflects strongly about his concerns for the Naga issue.

“In my observation, his (Chief Minister) body language and expressions shows that he has a serious commitment,” he said. ‘I hope he put his words and mind into action so that through his leadership, we would be able to contribute something to the people,’ he added.

Imchen also informed that all the political parties in the state had a meeting under the umbrella of ‘Nagaland United Government’ at the chief minister’s residential office on Wednesday.