Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Jan. 23 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Jan. 23 decided to mend its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whom the former had unceremoniously severed ties with in Jul. 2017.
The NPF made this decision during the emergency meeting of its Central Executive Council (CEC) Tue. at the party’s central office in Kohima.
“As desired by different section of the people regarding review of NPF decision severing tie with BJP, the CEC deliberated at length the cause that prompted the party to take such decision and concluded that the decision was taken to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens at a time when there were misunderstanding from within the party.
“But after reconciliation has taken place in the party and also considering the urgency to create a congenial atmosphere for the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and the Naga National Workers (NSCN (IM)/NNPGS) for political solution, the CEC considered it necessary to review the matter and resolved to maintain the earlier status of having alliance with BJP,” stated the party in its resolution.
Claiming that the BJP had made a proposal to the NPF for seat sharing for the ensuing assembly election, the NPF CEC stated that the party ‘agreed in principle’ to the proposal but details would be worked out ‘through proper exercises according to the merit of each case’.
No regrets, says Liezietsu
NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said the party’s earlier decision to sever ties with the BJP was taken with a ‘clear mind’ to ‘protect the constitutional right of the people’ and it has no regrets over what happened. But he said, “Now that reconciliation has taken place among the contending groups, we find it necessary to review some of our past decisions”.
On ticket distribution, he said first preference will be given to sitting MLAs but the party would not issue ticket to any legislator expected to not perform well. “If you want this party to come back to power, lend your support to your chief minister without reservation, cooperate with the party without reservation, and if your position is not very safe, be the kingmaker and be content with your contribution,” he told the party legislators bluntly.
Speaking about the instability of the 12th house, Liezietsu said the curtain was yet to fall on the ‘drama’ and more of resignations as well as change of loyalty from one party to another were expected. He blamed shifting of allegiance by political leaders not on the leaders alone but on their advisors.
Civil orgs. and pol. parties must come together
Admitting that the crisis the present house had faced came only due to differences within the NPF, chief minister TR Zeliang stated that the many crises could be counted as a blessing in disguise as members learnt many things through them.
With the election schedule being announced, Zeliang stressed on training guns at the enemy of the party and not towards one another “in our own house”, indicating that all is not right within the party despite its outward claims.
On the demand of the Naga Civil Society for solution to the Naga political issue before election, the chief minister maintained that the interlocutor for Naga peace talks, RN Ravi had made it clear in his statement that election cannot be deferred indefinitely unless the two Naga negotiating groups can specify the extent they were prepared to sign their agreement.
He maintained that civil societies’ ultimate decision should be intimated to all the political parties and all the parties should decide together, if at all the assembly election is to be deferred. Zeliang expressed concern that the 1998 election boycott should not be repeated.
Meanwhile, the NPF CEC while endorsing the resolution of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on solution to the Naga political issue before election which was adopted on Dec. 15, 2017, also appealed to the NSCN to listen to the voice of the people and resume ceasefire with the government of India and join the political dialogue.
CEC while upholding the leadership of Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu as president of NPF, also, reiterated the decision of the NPF parliamentary party to go to polls with TR Zeliang as the chief ministerial candidate. Further, it empowered the party president and the chief minister to decide the party ticket if the working committee differ its opinion on any constituencies /candidature. However, ‘winability’ and loyalty to the party should be the main criteria for awarding the party ticket.
Minister for Roads and Bridges and Political Affairs, G Kaito Aye while delivering a short speech at the CEC meet, almost came to blows with a CEC member after he alleged the latter of going against him. Aye pinpointed the CEC member, a former student leader, of having rallying against him in his constituency – Satakha under Zunheboto district – by campaigning with his opponents, to which the CEC member stood up and asked the minister to “stop talking nonsense” and dared Aye if he wanted him to reply to the allegation in front of the house. Some of the party workers diffused the situation, but not without leaving most of the leaders of the party including the president seeming perplexed with the sudden outburst.
Meanwhile BJP MLA and Co-Convenor, Election Management Committee BJP Nagaland, Mmhonlumo Kikon, when contacted, said the BJP welcomes the new resolution of the NPF to revoke the “severing of ties with the BJP”. However, he made it clear that any pre-poll alliance for the forthcoming elections will depend on the seat-sharing arrangement that any party will have with the BJP. Kikon said the BJP has already identified 25 constituencies and the party will have seat-sharing as the major criteria for sealing any alliance.
