In the changed scenario of the ruling party politics the NPF lead DAN government is no longer represented by elected members of former political allies- the BJP and NCP, so continued usage of the nomenclature Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is now a political oddball. DAN was coined at certain point of polling uncertainty between the NPF and few national parties, bitterly pitting against the erstwhile ruling Congress and not because of an uncommon election manifesto. Now that every opportunist MLA from Congress, BJP and NCP have stripped off his original attire and strode bare into the baptismal ceremony of the leading NPF, the self-description of the ruling as DAN is meaningless as well as un-parliamentary.
Regional party in the state is accustomed to changing names after names, not determined by political principles but mainly on the basis of the composition or decomposition of the party. Similarly, the present is no longer an alliance but it is an assimilated government of 34 NPF members, with individual support of 6 Independent MLAs. The presence or absence of the Independent MLAs in this situation is irrelevant. The comical part of the government here is that despite commanding a comfortable majority in the house, on the pretext of an exhausted pre-poll commitment most original NPFs are being discriminated throughout these 8 ruling years, considering the type and number of ministerial and parliamentary secretarys berths allotted. Whereas, fewer non-NPFs and late comers to the party are reaping optimum harvest of a dead alliance. Whether these sidelined NPF MLAs will remain silent or they can forcefully assert their political right to share power and privilege as equals, is a question left to their courage. Of course it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to choose his ministers, parliamentary secretaries, board chairman etc. but preference for bona fide capable members in a single dominant party government is a priority. Apparently some are being kept to remain as buffalo soldier, whose helplessness is exploited by the privileged few, whether NPF or not. Going by this trend, in the days to come some will be unavoidably given party ticket but sacrificed for the other preferred candidate on the garb of another alliance.
Having abandoned the alliance partners and spirit there is no reason to reiterate that the present is an alliance government. It has evidently become an exclusive NPF Government with no regard for the otherwise supportive national parties of the past. Once the purpose of the NPF was fulfilled by the NDA Government, the two alliance MLAs were ungraciously pulled out from BJP. Although the BJP condemned the two MLAs for betraying the trust reposed on them by the party and voters nothing was seriously initiated beyond that. Next, perhaps after squeezing out the most from the UPA Government through the NCP the latter has been totally humiliated, but surprisingly the party resolved to continue its support to the NPF government. And yet today they are speaking about possible disqualification of their formers MLAs. Indeed the NPF has masterminded the massacre of the democratic alliance jointly formed with its allies, but the aggrieved national parties have failed to react sufficiently to the humiliation and betrayal. Pathetic, but such is the plight of the unholy alliance of what is still called DAN. However, at least one fact is clear that the NPF has lost a strong ally, the BJP in Parliament and the NCP in UPA Government. But the NPF cannot survive on its own and will certainly search for a fresh ally even though for a short period. Earlier the NPF offered its two MPs to unconditionally support the Congress lead UPA Government. It is not unlikely that the next target maybe the UPA partner Trinamool Congress; after all West Bengal Assembly Election is approaching and the NPF is financially ready to finance the candidates of any convenient party, far and near. After all, somebody has to be paid heavily to speak well of the NPF in Delhi.
Regional party in the state is accustomed to changing names after names, not determined by political principles but mainly on the basis of the composition or decomposition of the party. Similarly, the present is no longer an alliance but it is an assimilated government of 34 NPF members, with individual support of 6 Independent MLAs. The presence or absence of the Independent MLAs in this situation is irrelevant. The comical part of the government here is that despite commanding a comfortable majority in the house, on the pretext of an exhausted pre-poll commitment most original NPFs are being discriminated throughout these 8 ruling years, considering the type and number of ministerial and parliamentary secretarys berths allotted. Whereas, fewer non-NPFs and late comers to the party are reaping optimum harvest of a dead alliance. Whether these sidelined NPF MLAs will remain silent or they can forcefully assert their political right to share power and privilege as equals, is a question left to their courage. Of course it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister to choose his ministers, parliamentary secretaries, board chairman etc. but preference for bona fide capable members in a single dominant party government is a priority. Apparently some are being kept to remain as buffalo soldier, whose helplessness is exploited by the privileged few, whether NPF or not. Going by this trend, in the days to come some will be unavoidably given party ticket but sacrificed for the other preferred candidate on the garb of another alliance.
Having abandoned the alliance partners and spirit there is no reason to reiterate that the present is an alliance government. It has evidently become an exclusive NPF Government with no regard for the otherwise supportive national parties of the past. Once the purpose of the NPF was fulfilled by the NDA Government, the two alliance MLAs were ungraciously pulled out from BJP. Although the BJP condemned the two MLAs for betraying the trust reposed on them by the party and voters nothing was seriously initiated beyond that. Next, perhaps after squeezing out the most from the UPA Government through the NCP the latter has been totally humiliated, but surprisingly the party resolved to continue its support to the NPF government. And yet today they are speaking about possible disqualification of their formers MLAs. Indeed the NPF has masterminded the massacre of the democratic alliance jointly formed with its allies, but the aggrieved national parties have failed to react sufficiently to the humiliation and betrayal. Pathetic, but such is the plight of the unholy alliance of what is still called DAN. However, at least one fact is clear that the NPF has lost a strong ally, the BJP in Parliament and the NCP in UPA Government. But the NPF cannot survive on its own and will certainly search for a fresh ally even though for a short period. Earlier the NPF offered its two MPs to unconditionally support the Congress lead UPA Government. It is not unlikely that the next target maybe the UPA partner Trinamool Congress; after all West Bengal Assembly Election is approaching and the NPF is financially ready to finance the candidates of any convenient party, far and near. After all, somebody has to be paid heavily to speak well of the NPF in Delhi.
Vaprümu Demo, Kohima
