On Sep. 20, 2017 the NPF group led by Neiphiu Rio and backed by the Chief Minister TR Zeliang along with 36 NPF legislators made a very formidable show of strength by being able to mobilise a mammoth crowd of party workers in its General Convention. The party also went on record to state that there were a total of 32871 registered workers whose signatures and the recordings of the day’s proceedings in various media would be sent to the Election Commission of India in their bid to reclaim the name and symbol of the NPF party. On the other hand the day also coincided with the consultative meetings of the other group led by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu in Kohima as well as Dimapur in their effort to somewhat eclipse the convention of their rivals at Dimapur. Currently, along with the disqualification petitions filed by both the groups with the Speaker, there is also a case pending in the court on the constitutionality of the whip that was issued by TR Zeliang as the newly appointed Chief Whip during the floor test which was filed by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu.
Interestingly, this tussle within the NPF actually started after the then Chief Minister Niephiu Rio decided to leave state politics for the lone Lok Sabha seat in 2014. Thereafter cracks especially between the then party president Liezietsu and the three time chief minister Rio slowly started to unfold that at present seems impossible to mend. What Rio might have expected when he decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls was that he would still have some say within the party if not the government. He was right in believing that his friends would agree to it. Moreover he still is the tallest leader that the party had produced in recent times. Unfortunately, his confidence was misplaced and posed a serious threat to his political standing. While acknowledging this during the general convention he said that it is good for him to have learnt the (harsh) realities of life.
Presently, it is yet to be seen in whose favour the ECI will rule but another episode of about 60 days of high drama in the state seems to be over for now. This time, it had started after the former rivals Neiphiu Rio and TR Zeliang joined hands to topple Liezietsu and subsequently TR Zeliang was sworn in as the chief minister on July 19. In politics, such occurrences are not unexpected but the people of the state were caught unawares that political rivalry and the blind tussle for seats would go to such extent. The public, who are also to blame partly for obligating their representatives to secure plumb portfolios were in for a rude shock through the various episodes of the tussle in the last 3 years. Starting from 2015, the public who generally are not conversant with the various legal languages and proceedings were being bombarded their daily doses of legal intricacies. Every past and present court judgements were interpreted by the rival groups. There were instances when strong words, often very caustic even by Naga standards, spoken and stated by the warring groups and their supporters reached its nadir. The allegations, claims and the so called facts presented were in the tone of criticisms and condemnations for very serious criminal offences. Although the continuation of such standards will be debated, the public surely got a taste of a very new way of media management by the warring groups in the many media platforms. However, being a political rivalry, except for those party functionaries, families and supporters who came out openly, the effectiveness of third parties and pacifists seemed completely lost, and it remains so.
Nevertheless, amid the struggle for power and legality by both the groups the continued reference to the Naga peace talks along with their continued support to it stated by both groups in every possible opportunity. In spite of the litigations in courts and probably in the ECI that is expected, in electoral politics and in a democracy the number also matters. The group led by Rio and TR somehow eclipsed the other especially with such show of strength and as claimed, the 32871 should draw the attention to the leaders at the Centre especially when it resolved to request the negotiating parties of the peace process to expedite the negotiation. It may also be concluded that there is an advantage for the bigger group in case of an election but the peace process is a major election plank that the NPF have committed itself to for nearly 15 years. An election at such a juncture may not bode well for all. The rivalry has also divided the people which will manifest more if there is an election. As for the ruling BJP at the Centre if it wants to go alone in the elections, although it is already in alliance with the government led by Chief Minister TR Zeliang, it will not be beneficial. It will also be quite unfavourable for the NPF party whichever group retains the name and symbol. Therefore, the decision of the leaders at the Centre will be talked and discussed for a long time to come.
