Political flux adds uncertainty in Nagaland

The present 12th NLA is besot with a series of litigations within the divided NPF legislature and party organisation. The current house is also awaiting court ruling on which of the two chief whips of NPF has locus standi and which would also influence disqualification cases pending in the court. Two parallel NPF parties-one headed by Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü and the other by Neiphiu Rio- are also vying to be the genuine party before the Election Commission of India. 

The present 12th NLA also has the unique feature of having two leaders of NPF legislature party and two rival chief whips.

The political stalemate has also largely contributed to the inhibition among present MLAs going ahead in launching their initial re-election campaigns since no one can be sure about the outcome of the legal battle between rival factions of NPF. 

Despite the battering and bruising going on within NPF, the BJP itself is also not free from factionalism that had recently come out in the open over the issue of party president.

Several party leaders were suspended from the party for rebelling against the president.

If the political flux in the state has send confusing signals, the other issue that has been at the top of the political agenda- ‘Naga Solution’- is also showing little signs of nearing the final stage.

The issue of ‘solution’ to the protracted Naga political issue has been oft repeated even during the UPA regime. The 11th and 12th House of NLA had fully backed the resolution for urging upon the government of India to bring about early solution that is acceptable and honourable to all sections of Naga society.

The elected members have also assured that they would resign en masse if solution was inked between the government of India and NSCN (I-M) in order to pave way for “an alternative arrangement.”

That has also brought up formation of an “interim/provisional government” comprised of representatives of the Naga group and leaders of civil society groups etc, though this aspect has yet to be explicitly mentioned. 

It may also be recalled that this issue “interim government” had also been raised during the UPA-II. However, then Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told news persons that as per the constitution, there would be no such ‘Interim Government’ as in the case with Nagaland. 

Shinde’s statement came close on the heels of the trip to Delhi in 2013 by a 60-member legislators from Nagaland before the March 2013 assembly election, who had gone to impress upon the Centre for an early solution and informing about their willingness to step down.

What is more significant is that after the BJP under Narendra Modi came to power in 2014 it had given the final touch to over 70 negotiations between the NSCN (I-M) and the Government of India’s Interlocutors to Naga Peace Talks.

Under Modi, the Government of India through its Interlocutor R.N. Ravi signed the Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 to set the road map towards final solution.

This has hastened the process for solution which is being expected soon. This expectation has also led to speculations about the formation of an interim government after solution is arrived at.

Solution may not be too long in waiting but before that the Interlocutor had made it clear that there will be only one solution and involving all sections of Naga society.

The willingness of other Naga groups to be part of the solution also assumes significance though it is not known if any fresh proposal(s) would be put forward or even entertained.

The political headwinds towards an early solution could only be visible if the other groups are made part of the process.

In an interview by Nagaland Post, Interlocutor RN Ravi had said the constitutional obligations are separate from the ongoing negotiations.