Opposition-less government in Nagaland to be called United Democratic Alliance

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 18 (EMN): Ending speculations around the all-party government in Nagaland, legislators and leaders of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Naga People’s Front (NPF) and two Independent MLAs on Saturday unanimously resolved to adopt the nomenclature of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for the opposition-less government.

The decision to change the nomenclature from Nagaland United Government (NUG) to UDA was taken at the all-party consultative meeting held at the State Banquet Hall in Kohima.

The House also unanimously resolved to reiterate the joint resolution between the three parties signed on August 11 and the 13th.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Planning and Coordination, and Land Resource, Neiba Kronu said the earlier nomenclature was “okay” but a few members felt “more appropriate” to name it as UDA instead of NUG.

He added that they would write to the NLA Speaker in a day or two for formation of UDA as nomenclature and all formalities would be followed.

Highlighting the key discussions of the meeting, Kronu said the members had a lengthy discussion on state politics as well as the national politics, particularly on the recent visit of the Nagaland chief minister and BJP leaders to Delhi. The members were briefed about the meeting, he added.

On whether there was any discussion on the sharing of portfolios with the NPF, Kronu replied that it was not discussed and everything was the prerogative of the chief minister.

Kronu, who is also the member-secretary of the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue, reiterated that the committee is “very serious” about the Naga issue.

It may be mentioned that the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) had decided to take the NPF on board the government under the nomenclature of NUG in August, nearly a month after the then opposition party announced its decision to support the concept of an opposition-less government without any pre-condition for the sake of Naga political issue.

To iron out confusion around it, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had recently met with the BJP central leadership in New Delhi.

Assam CM, Mishra to meet negotiating parties

Kronu further informed that the Convenor of North-East Democratic Alliance (Neda), Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the chief minister of Assam, will come to Dimapur on September 21 to meet the negotiating parties (NSCN-IM). The meeting was the “desire of the central government” and as the “new interlocutor has been appointed, we need to come closer”, he shared.

When asked if the Core Committee on Naga Political Issue would be a part of the meeting, he replied that Sarma would meet the group separately but they would also try to meet him.

“Sarma knows Naga political issue and it is not new to him,” said Kronu.

It is also reported that the peace talks between the government of India (GoI) and the NSCN (IM) will resume on September 20 in Dimapur, after nearly two years. Former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau of India AK Mishra, who is touted to replace RN Ravi as the interlocutor, will lead the talks for the GoI.