By Oken Jeet Sandham<\/p>\n
When the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directive to the two NPF groups on March 27 to hold their \u201cGeneral Convention\u201d with their active members to end their crisis, things have taken place in that direction as both the groups have issued necessary notices for the same. The directive of the ECI has been seen some sort of \u201cpeacemaking mission.\u201d It has not given any ruling on who is right or who is wrong. In other words, the ECI directive has clearly indicated that the issue is \u201cinternal of the NPF.\u201d<\/p>\n
The most interesting part is the ECI directive in its para 10 says, \u201cNo record has been placed, nor even vaguely averred, by either of the two groups before the Commission showing that the remedy provided in the Party constitution for determining the dispute out of the present split has been resorted to, exhausted or even attempted. When there is a specific and express remedy provided in the Party constitution itself which is binding on all members of the party, to deal with any specific issue concerning the party, such remedy should be exhausted first before seeking a decision from the Commission. The Commission is thus of the considered view that it would be premature for the Commission to pass orders on the present question of the split at this stage.\u201d
\nThe ECI has directed both NPF groups to follow Article XIV of the NPF Constitution for \u201cgetting the dispute resolved with the decision of the Active Members of the party as per the procedure laid down therein.\u201d And the outcome of the meeting being conducted as per Article XIV of the Party Constitution should be submitted to the ECI.<\/p>\n
More interestingly, the ECI in its directive in Para 11 says: \u201cThe Commission hopes and expects that the internal dispute in the party will be settled amicably within the framework of the Party constitution which would pave way for its harmonious function, not only in its own interest but also in the interest of the State of Nagaland where it is ruling party.\u201d
\nAfter carefully observing the aforementioned points of the ECI, its role is a \u201cpeacemaking mission\u201d something like \u201cconflict resolution.\u201d Never mind, the people of the northeast has been living in the midst of \u201call types social and political conflicts due to unresolved political conflicts nearly 70 years.\u201d Nearly 90% of the population in the whole of the northeast were born after India gets her Independence and they have been hearing only \u201cconflicts\u201d and many intellectuals, educationists, political pundits usually love talking about \u201cpolitical conflicts\u201d of the region with New Delhi. Ironically, it goes on without giving any remedies till now.<\/p>\n
There are pseudo-intellectuals in our society all along talking with beautifully orchestrated \u201cconflict resolution theories\u201d with blank input of solution. So when the ECI plays more of a \u201cpeacemaking\u201d role for resolving the conflict of the NPF groups by wisely referring to the party\u2019s Constitution, it works.
\nYet, politics is, no doubt, an art of compromise as often said, \u201cThere is no permanent friend or foe in politics.\u201d After all, it is all politics and it surprises none.
\nHowever, the question is – \u201cWhy did Chief Minister TR Zeliang move for \u201cConfidence Motion\u201d of his government when the \u201cNPF\u201d had \u201cinternal crisis?\u201d What happened to his government when 22 NPF dissident MLAs led by G Kaito Aye challenged his leadership?
\nBut Kaito had his own political maneuver by supporting the \u201cConfidence Motion.\u201d Corroborating their move, the veteran lawmaker justified that they would not go against \u201cour DAN government\u201d as their move was purely against the leadership of TR.<\/p>\n
The Opposition Congress, which played a very crucial role in rescuing the beleaguered TR from the unprecedented political web, would have hit the jackpot, had the BJP MLAs remained neutral during the \u201cConfidence Motion.\u201d But the BJP High Command played another political maneuver by pulling the rug at an unpredicted time. This is also \u201cpolitics,\u201d anyway.
\nNevertheless, the most interesting part is not the ECI\u2019s directive but Chief Minister TR Zeliang\u2019s fumbling on the expansion of his Ministry. It has been three and half months since 22 dissident NPF MLAs openly revolted against his leadership that he has been running the DAN government without filling up the four Cabinet Ministerial Posts which remained vacant after G Kaito Aye, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, Noke Wangnao and Dr Benjongliba Aier were dropped. Expectations are running high that he will exercise expansion of his Ministry, at least, after March 27 ECI directives. But things remain the same if not complicated.<\/p>\n
But the question is – How long will TR continue his government without expanding his Ministry? Is there any logic for him to remain in the same fashion? If he further delays expansion of his Ministry, then the people of Nagaland will be made to believe something otherwise on him. If he continues with the current mode with no efforts to expand and restructure the Ministry, he will only push the state backward. The world is moving so fast and we seem to be more complacent even after fully knowing of the continuous deficiencies in the governing. The present trend should not continue further as it will cause irreparable loss to the people of Nagaland in the long run.<\/p>\n\n