Political instability continues in N-E

Six months ago, a rebellion within the Naga People’s front (NPF) led to the ejection of then chief minister of Nagaland T R Zeliang and installation of Shurozelie Liezietsu in his place. This time, the tables have been turned. Following another revolt within the NPF, Shurozelie has been sacked and Zeliang installed as the chief minister. Unlike the previous occasion, when the Zeliang’s move to push 33% reservation for women in local bodies was said to have caused the revolt, this time there was no ideological pretext for the regime change. In the weeks leading up to it, 44 legislators had declared their support for Zeliang, who had made a quick and mysterious trip to Delhi. Meanwhile, the central executive committee of the NPF had broken up its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which supported the rebel faction.

Now that Zeliang has won the floor test, Nagaland has a chief minister without a party as Zeliang was expelled from MPF for six years for alleged “anti-party activities.” The NPF, which had led the ruling coalition since 2003, is split down the middle. It has accused the BJP-ruled Centre of misusing the governor’s office to expand its outreach in the Northeast. A similar script was followed in Arunachal Pradesh, where the BJP had used the governor’s office to unseat Congress chief minister Nabam Tuki. The matter went to the Supreme Court, which reinstated Tuki, but the latter lost the floor test and Pema Khandu was appointed chief minister in July 2016. Within months, Khandu and his followers migrated from the Congress to the People’s Party of Arunachal and later to the BJP. Arunachal now has a BJP government, with 47 of 60 the legislators.

Politicians in the Northeast tend to favour the party in power at the Centre for promise of more funds and resources. This time, the BJP has formed a North East Democratic Alliance in all seven states. As a result, it is holding power in three states. Not all of these victories reflect a sudden ground-swell of support for the party. The BJP will do well to realise that destabilising politics by eliminating local political outfits in the region is fraught with danger. It not only affects development, but also enhances threat of foreign intervention due to the area’s borders with China and Bangladesh. The regional parties ensure that the identities and demands that had found violent expression are accommodated in a democratic set-up. By trying to superimpose its brand of nationalism on the Northeast, the BJP is silencing the voices that make Indian democracy richer and more diverse.