NDPP, BJP in Mutual Piggyback to Untie Nagaland’s Gordian Knot

Kolkata: Nagaland’s politics in the last five years has thrown up certain questions and conclusions. First, whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is piggybacking on the Neiphiu Rio-led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) or vice-versa—despite the state-based party having the upper hand over the BJP in the 60-member Assembly?

Second, Rio (72), who is into his fifth term as chief minister (CM), appears to have mastered the art of keeping the BJP in good humour with the latter agreeing to him being the alliance’s CM face even before the nomination.

Third, the Congress is not a pale shadow of itself and stands decimated. It could have played a crucial role in the Opposition camp had it stopped recurrent defections.

The biggest surprise was that non-national parties with roots far away from Nagaland bagged seats during the February 27 Assembly election with the Congress drawing a blank. Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) won one, LJP (R) and RPI (A) two each and NCP six.

Nagaland’s regional parties which registered some success were the National People’s Front, which won two seats, and the National People’s Party five.

The Congress repeated its 2018 dismal performance when 15 of its 18 candidates forfeited their deposits. One of the Congress candidates this time nominees ‘organised a last-minute withdrawal’ of all other opposition candidates, facilitating the re-election of BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi from Akuluto seat unopposed.

Post-result manoeuvring in the Northeast is a way of politics and was first evident in 2018 and repeated after the 2023 Assembly election results.

Parties against the NDPP-BJP ruling alliance supported it “in the interest of the state in general and an early political solution with underground insurgents” in particular. The 2015 Framework Agreement between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to finalise the Naga Peace Accord was the second reason.

Consequently, Nagaland does not have an Opposition in the Assembly with the government and its ministers having no accountability in a state known for insurgency and continues to be known even today for its rent-seeking, extortion-driven political activity. 

Rio, who belongs to the Angami Naga tribe, had fought his first Assembly election in 1989 as a Congress (I) candidate, remained a Congress member till 2002 and fought subsequent polls and was given important portfolios.

Rio quit the Congress in 2002 when SC Jamir was the CM. Subsequently, he joined the Naga People’s Front (NPF), had an inning in the Lok Sabha in 2014 and was back in state politics later. In 2018, he broke away from NPF and founded the NDPP.

Rio has survived Nagaland’s uncertain politics in the last 33 years and knows how to have his way by keeping the BJP brass in good humour. The recent government and distribution of portfolio proves this.

In the 12-member Cabinet, which has a woman for the first time, Rio has given five berths to the BJP, which won 12 seats—same as in 2018—out of the 20 seats it contested. The NDPP bagged 25 out of 40 seats against 18 in 2018.

NDPP member Mhathun Yanthan has been chosen as Speaker pro tem pending the choice of a regular one. The remaining 24 members were appointed advisers to various departments.

An appointment notification issued by cabinet secretary J Alam read: “This arrangement would help utilise the vast and practical experience of the members of NLA [Nagaland Legislative Assembly] for the benefit of the public at large.”

Rio’s decision was condemned by the state Congress with its working president Khiredi Theunuo urging governor La Ganeshan to nullify the appointments and contending that the CM’s action had violated constitutional provisions as the members had not taken oath as legislators.

The BJP, which is desperate to expand in the Northeast and has a good equation with Rio, is mum over the appointments.

According to political observers, had the other parties chosen to be in the Opposition by sticking to their pre-poll decision to fight separately, the CM would not have appointed these advisers.

The BJP’s extremely accommodative stance towards Rio is because of his contacts with underground insurgent outfits. The Centre is also keen to use his good offices to work out a political solution within the framework of the Constitution, sources said. After some movement in 2015 and 2017, there is a virtual lull and insurgent groups are pressuring New Delhi for an early resolution.

The demand for a separate state called Frontier Nagaland comprising the six extremely eastern backward districts inhabited by 7 of the total 19 Naga tribes has further complicated matters. Four of the six districts have international borders with Myanmar.

In his last term, Rio could do little to address the issue. The Centre too will play a major role in addressing the demand. Therefore, both the NDPP and BJP have their roles cut out with mutual piggybacking.

The writer is a Kolkata-based senior freelance journalist. Views are personal.