Along Moa
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t is indeed most painful to observe the bleeding of the NPF party. The manner in which there are two wide divisions within the party is sad to observe and difficult to digest. This party is a very precious asset of the Naga people. I was most happy when the party changed its nomenclature from Nagaland People’s Front to Naga People’s Front because we finally had a political party that was truly Naga and represented the political aspirations of the Nagas. The NPF was at its zenith with tremendous amount of political success in the past ten years. Way back in 2002, the party which was called NPC, was virtually fighting to stay afloat as it had lost the cock symbol and due to boycotting the assembly elections.It had not even a single member in the Nagaland assembly. But as we all know, the fortunes of the party changed and its tremendous rise began after the 2003 Nagaland assembly elections. For the first time a regional party was heading a coalition government of several parties including national parties and independents. At that point of time the former Chief Minister, Dr. SC Jamir, who is considered as the grand old man of Naga politics had ridiculed the DAN coalition saying that it would fall like a house of cards within months. Many skeptics had predicted from the beginning itself that the DAN government’s days were numbered. However, what transpired was that the Congress house fell like a pack of cards with seven Congress MLAs leaving the Congress camp and merging with the NPF. The two leaders at the heat of the current storm, TR Zeliang and Kaito Aye were both part of these seven Congress defectors. In 2008 just two months ahead of assembly elections, the Congress in Delhi instigated defections and created instability and Nagaland came under imposition of President’s Rule. The NPF struck back by winning 26 seats and further consolidated its position, despite the Congress running a de-facto Government taking advantage of President’s rule, with the then Congress leader behaving like a virtual chief minister. In between these years, the NPF party won Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections with record margins. The grand old man, Dr. SC Jamir was also made to bite the dust when he shockingly lost bye elections in Aonglendeng. In 2013 the NPF won a record 38 seats in the Nagaland assembly. This was in addition to the party having 4 MLAs in the Manipur assembly, and both Members of Parliament from Nagaland at the Centre. The regional party had never had it so good. It had never seen such success in its entire history. This was indeed the zenith for the cock party. Whether we like it or not, we must admit that the leadership of that period must be given much of the credit for what the party achieved. Neiphiu Rio must be given credit for the rise of the NPF. Even his greatest detractors will admit that Rio is the most significant factor behind the rise of the NPF .As we all know, what goes up must come down. Today the NPF is in a deep mess. It will be difficult, if not impossible to make it recover from the sudden shock that has shaken up the party. The party seems to be divided on all lines. Its ideology, principles and foundations are being shaken up like never before. What irony it is to witness the party fall apart brick by brick during its brightest hour. All this would not have happened if the change of guard after the departure of Rio as CM was done in a proper manner. The secret signature campaign, the ridiculous institution of a core group to select a new CM, and the embarrassment of camping in Kaziranga to decide the fate of the people of Nagaland with the consent of the party leadership are actually the foundations of this present crisis. The 2013 mandate that the NPF is enjoying at present was a mandate in favour of the Rio leadership and to choose a new leader without his knowledge and approval through a secret signature campaign carried out by the president and through decision in camp Kaziranga are the reasons why the State has been taken into this deep crisis.
Some people build, some people destroy. Unfortunately in this case the people responsible for destroying the party are the very people who were fully enjoying the fruits of the party’s success. Some leaders simply sat in their high offices in Kohima and enjoyed the fruits of other people’s hard work and success. But when the opportunity for them to lead came, they miserably failed. They have taken the party into its greatest crisis and it will be difficult to come out of this hole. Even as you read these words, the party continues to bleed. Better sense has to prevail. Since times immemorial, Nagas have practiced the purest form of democracy. We do not want to know or read about clauses and articles of constitutions. It is difficult to understand why Dr. Shurhozelie had refused to allow the majority to prevail when he had assured Kaito and several other senior leaders that he would respect the majority view and that he would allow the majority to prevail. If there are certain aspects about Kaito which is not acceptable for him to lead the Nagas, then it should also be made known to the public.
All said and done the bottom line is that we should let the majority rule.
