Aye, Imchen, Neinu, Phom, Lotha and Yhoshü biggest gainers of 2017
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 30: The year 2017 in Nagaland experienced a spate of fierce political drama within the Naga Peoples’ Front-led (NPF) Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (Dan) in the form of a fight for political legitimacy and organisational leadership over the party primarily.
The dispute was between two camps: one led by Nagaland’s Chief Minister TR Zeliang and the other led by former Chief Minister Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu. In the ensuing tussle the former chief minister and MP Neiphiu Rio along with those loyal to him also came to the fore for a short while from July till December.
The dispute not only created a self-sustained platform for frequent dissension within the regional party’s hierarchy. The frequent changes in the leadership and legislative portfolios of the ministers in concern created tremendous confusion among the people of the state.
The frequent change in the legislator’s assignments—not to mention the frequent changes in the persons in the chief minister’s chair—appeared to the public far from being dignified and mature. But for the legislators, it was apparently something that their lives and futures depended on, which kept them on their toes without a doubt. The distribution of portfolios, for instance, changed or worked in favour of those legislators whose leader was in power then.
A considerable number of the legislators received new assignments each time the DAN government went through a dispute and the customary ‘reconciliation’ depending on whose convenience the numbers were in favour of. For instance, T Torechu was assigned the chairman of the NKVIB, and advisor for Evaluation and the NRLM. He was dropped to become a ‘normal’ Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). Likewise, Tokheho Yepthomi who was holding the PHE and School Education assignment as a minister and was later dropped from the council of minister to becoming an MLA.
Dr. Neiphrezo Keditsu, who took charge as chairman of the NSMDC, and a parliamentary secretary for Labour and Employment, and Skill development is now currently an MLA. Another legislator, Neiba Kronu, was given charge as minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; then to parliamentary secretary for Planning & Coordination, Evaluation & Monitoring Cell; and then all the way down to being a ‘normal’ MLA. N Jacob Zhimomi took charge as parliamentary secretary for Irrigation & Flood Control and is now the advisor for PHE.
Chotisuh Sazo was the speaker of the legislative assembly at the beginning of the year then became a cabinet minister for PHED in February only to be dropped in July but again back as the advisor for Social Welfare in December.
For Dr. Benjongliba and YM Yollow Konyak it was rather a cross portfolio change with the former starting the year as parliamentary secretary for Agriculture and the latter the parliamentary secretary for CAWD. In February their portfolios were interchanged and it remained the same till the filing of this report.
In the whole melee Kaito Aye, Imkong Imchen, Kuzholuzo Neinu, Pangnyu Phom, Thomas Lotha and Vikho Yhoshü turned out to be the biggest gainers. They all started as MLAs at the start of the year and ended up as either cabinet ministers or advisors with cabinet rank by year end.
Another notable mention is Kropol Vitsü, who also started the year as an MLA, and is now the parliamentary secretary for Economic & Statistics and SCERT.
For another five legislators C Kipili Sangtam, CL John, P Longon, Paiwang Konyak and Vikheho Swu the year ended on a good note. They all began the year as cabinet ministers and are still cabinet ministers. There were some few setbacks for some of them except Kipili who was the only legislator who survived in the whole tussle game and continuously remained a cabinet minister with the same portfolio after every reshuffle.
The biggest losers are Tokheho Yepthomi, Y Patton and Dr. Nikiesalie Kire who were all cabinet ministers at the beginning of the year but are now mere MLAs.
As for another six legislators CM Chang, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Namri Nchang, Noke Wangnao, Pohwang and Zhaleo Rio, they started the year as MLAs and ended the year as MLAs except for a short stint from July to December.
Mmhonlumo Kikon and Neiba Krono were the two legislators were in the cabinet for the shortest duration of just about 5 months.
One legislator Khriehu Liezietsu had to sacrifice his seat and resign to let the present NPF party President Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu to contest elections after he was sworn in as the chief minister although not a member of the house.
The legislators who escaped the overly confusing frequent change of portfolio are Kejong Chang minister for Horticulture, DB and GB; parliamentary secretary for Land Resources and Development and Excise BS Nganlang; S Hukavi Zhimomi, parliamentary secretary for Jail, Science & Technology; Pukhayi Sumi, parliamentary secretary for Soil & Water Conservation; Toyang Changkong Chang, parliamentary secretary for NRE, Fire & Emergency Service; L Khumu Khiam, parliamentary secretary for Land Revenue, VG and Women Resources Development; Levi Rengma, parliamentary secretary for Housing; Amenba Yaden, parliamentary secretary for Industries and Commerce; C Apok Jamir, parliamentary secretary for Tourism; and Imtilemba Sangtam, present minister for Cooperation, Relief & Rehabilitation and chairman of the MARCOFED.
