The recent events in the political front of the state since the beginning of the current month culminating in a floor test that is still disputed has unfolded a case of procedure against numbers, read electoral successes, that in some way mirrors the existing scenario of the state as a whole. Although a new chief minister have been sworn in and government formed with the council of ministers already inducted the dispute is still pending in the courts. The question of whether it is an internal party matter or not that however undoubtedly affected the smooth functioning of the government is almost settled with the courts giving the verdict against the former chief minister and the Governor using his discretionary powers in favour of the majority. On the advice of the council of ministers, even in 2015 the Governor had used a similar yardstick inspite of the dissidents, who were clearly in majority, claiming that it was an internal party matter. That time the dissidents wisely voted for the government stating they were not against the government but only against the leadership. A vote against the whip would have attracted them disqualification proceedings with a high probability of losing their seats since they did not have the required two thirds majority, though in majority, if a split or merger was necessitated. The tussle for the ownership of the party still continued even after the floor test for some time with one or two hearings in the ECI until the so called reconciliation move started. Although in both the cases the majority of the NPF party’s legislators have rebelled against the party, the president stuck to the procedures as laid down by various rules both within the party and other platforms. Therefore on this issue of procedural lapses and injustice being done as alleged by the NPF President, the case is still pending in the courts. Without considering the electoral successes, the national political parties like the INC earlier were the only parties that had somewhat well structured proper party discipline and working system especially because of having a tested system that is easier to import. However the excessive levels of strata in the structure was the party’s undoing when it came to Naga electorates over the years, with the NPF constantly attacking the ‘High Command’ style of decision making. However there is no denying that the national parties have a better structured organisation than the home bred parties that has to go through trials and errors. The recent debacle and the continued dispute within the NPF party indicates one such feature where there is a disconnect between the party organisation and the electorates and the successes that the electorates bring which translates into legislators in the Assembly. Similarly it also indicates a disconnect between the party organisation and its candidates who bring success to the party by winning in elections because in the current system the party with the highest number of elected members in the House matters more. The NPF president, though there is clear indication of loss of popularity or in the case of the Assembly the loss of confidence in him by his party legislators is trying his best to state his party’s stand. Whether it is a matter of principle or not only time will tell but in the our democratic system when more than two thirds of his MLAs are against him then the question of moral responsibility of party president also arises. The procedure of the appointment of the chief whip will surely be analysed in the courts and a new landmark judgement may also be given whether for or against the petitioners. On the other hand, although a higher number of the elected members always have a heavier weight in the assembly added with the power that comes after induction, the legislators should also have to do relook into inner workings of their party organisation; knowing the structure and understanding the rules and statutes of the party. The last four years of this crisis ridden tenure of the NLA have somehow also indicated the NPF legislator’s ignorance of the party’s rules including its constitution. The INC and the NPF may have shown the two extremes when it came to the workings of the political parties in Nagaland and the Naga people. Will the political parties and its leaders be finally ready for a middle path starting right from our elected members, which is a clear indication of getting wiser thereby increasing more positive and active participation by the people.
