By Moa Jamir
As 2025 draws to a close, Nagaland stands out not for a single defining breakthrough, but for a recurring pattern that cut across politics, governance and society: division followed by pressure for correction, fragmentation countered by attempts at convergence. The year unfolded as a steady negotiation between competing claims to authority within political parties, among Naga political groups, and between the State and its citizens.
Recruitment disputes, service regularisation, and questions of procedural fairness repeatedly surfaced in both courtrooms and public spaces. Judicial interventions compelled the executive to revisit constitutional and procedural norms, whether through the quashing of flawed recruitment exercises or directions to fill long-pending vacancies in health and education. These developments reflected sustained public concern over merit, transparency and institutional credibility.
The controversy surrounding the proposed regularisation of assistant professors became emblematic of this broader trend. Framed initially as an administrative response to staffing gaps, the move triggered protests by NET- and PhD-qualified aspirants, technical associations and civil society groups, who questioned its legality and fairness. The agitation joined a series of service-related protests during the year, including opposition to changes in IAS induction norms and prolonged demands by RMSA teachers for implementation of pay parity and service benefits already upheld by the courts. The eventual revocation of the assistant professor order underscored the limits of unilateral decision-making in matters affecting public employment.
Running parallel to administrative churn was a persistent political rhythm of merger and division. On the one hand, mainstream party politics saw consolidation, most notably through the merger of the NDPP with the NPF and the latter’s formal entry into the ruling alliance. These developments were positioned as efforts to ensure stability and coordinated governance. At the same time, they prompted debate on whether political convergence was driven by shared programmes or electoral considerations.
In contrast, fragmentation continued within Naga political groups. Competing claims over leadership of umbrella bodies and repeated internal splits pointed to unresolved questions of legitimacy and representation. This pattern increasingly drew pushback from tribal hohos, church organisations and reconciliation platforms, which publicly asserted that further divisions would not be accepted. At the same time, contestation within Naga society at large remained evident on the political issue, with significant interventions such as the Ungma Statement in August followed by other actions, even as dissonance persisted over the proposed Naga Common Platform in November.
The Eastern Nagaland issue, which persisited thropught the year aslo reflected duality of adjustment and continuity. Economically, the year presented a mixed picture. Budget announcements, skill development missions and projections of a $10 billion economy signalled forward intent. Yet, repeated infrastructure failure, particularly along national highways, along with fire incidents and monsoon-related disruptions exposed persistent implementation gaps. Court-monitored projects and repeated judicial observations on delays highlighted the tension between policy articulation and administrative capacity. Questions remain regarding the pace of implementation for several budgetary initiatives announced this year.
In retrospect, 2025 was a year in which Nagaland repeatedly confronted the consequences of its own decisions. Political consolidation proceeded alongside political fragmentation. Governance measures were advanced, contested, corrected and, in some cases, withdrawn. The year’s defining feature was not resolution, but sustained scrutiny by courts, civil society and affected groups, reinforcing that legitimacy in Nagaland continues to rest on legality, transparency and accountability rather than authority alone.
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