As the year 2018 ends, a flashback on the events that took place indicate that there were several issues that dominated the state besides the assembly elections held in February and the subsequent Lok Sabha by poll held in May 2018.
The year 2018 saw the continuation of the political drama within NPF where three former chief ministers fought bitterly for the chair.
Ultimately Neiphiu Rio had to resign as MP and member of the party he helped found (NPF) and join the newly formed NDPP which he also helped form. Having three former chief ministers was one of the chief problems for NPF as any shift in combination between any of the three led to crisis.
The other development was the cracks in the alliance between BJP and NPF which came to surface during the internal crisis between Dr. Shürhozelie and T.R. Zeliang for the post of chief minister. The NPF legislature had split with a majority siding with T.R.Zeliang.
NPF party organisation under Dr.Shürhozelie resolved to end the alliance with BJP for not adhering to the spirit of the alliance. T.R.Zeliang however spoke differently when he said the alliance remained after both he and Dr.Shürhozelie reconciled.
However the eventual separation came before announcement of the polls when the BJP rejected NPF’s stand but instead, agreed to join hands with Neiphiu Rio and his newly formed NDPP.
January 2018 was welcomed with several issues in public domain such as excess appointments and demand for Tseminyu district by the Rengma tribe. The other major issue was the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill for Assam which the BJP sought to introduce. The bill seeks to accord Indian citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who migrated to India till December 31, 2014 if they can prove they resided in India for six years.
On the same month the ‘Solution Not Election’ became a big issue where various Naga civil society groups and tribe organisations demanded the postponement of the scheduled February 2018 assembly elections in favour of solution to the Naga political issue.
NPCC had blamed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for causing the uproar by adopting a resolution in December 2017, to urge the government of India/ECI to postpone election in favour of solution.
More and more organisations joined the chorus for postponement of elections. The opinions differed between those who favour postponement and those who did not.
However, government of India’s Interlocutor to the Naga Peace Talks and Deputy National Security Adviser R.N.Ravi made it clear, that such a demand was not valid.
This stand was enlightened by some legal luminaries who explained that under the constitution there was no provision to postpone polls unless there was a major calamity or serious law and order problem such as civil unrest.
They said holding negotiations and anticipating an agreement did not warrant deferment of elections.
Even the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) urged the government of India to defer elections since the negotiation stage for the eventual agreement had reached crucial stage and from which solution/agreement was just on the corner.
The government of India later came out clear on the issue by reiterating that there would be no postponement to the constitutional obligation without any basis.
In the assembly elections held on February 27, 2018 the NPF won the highest number seats at 26. NPP which contested for the first time in alliance with NPF, won two seats.
However, Rio who led NDPP in winning 18 seats and the BJP with 12 seats managed to woo the lone JDU and an independent MLA to stake claim. Eventually the two NPP members also joined the new alliance – Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) which was sworn-in on March 8, 2018.
Formalin (used in preservation of dead bodies) was detected in fishes imported mainly from Andhra Pradesh. As per the findings of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the medical department, the authorities banned fish imports for several months.
The FSSAI team on wheels also detected chemicals in fruits used for artificial ripening and which are harmful when consumed.
The monsoon also saw major damages inflicted on roads due to landslides besides several hundred houses, many paddy field across Nagaland due to torrential rains and floods.
In the Lok Sabha bypolls held in May, the NDPP candidate Tokheho Yepthomi defeated his long time former Congress colleague and NPF candidate C.Apok Jamir.NDPP wrested the seat from NPF.
NSCN (I-M) vice chairman ‘Gen’(Retd) Khole Konyak died in New Delhi on December 12.
NSCN (K) leader Khango Konyak was ousted by late S.S.Khaplang’s nephew Yung Aung in Myanmar. NSCN led by Khango has since returned to India and agreed to a cease fire. The first ever dialogue was held in the first week of December with the government of India’s Interlocutor R.N.Ravi .
On the social plane, extortions and abductions especially in Dimapur continue to cause concern. Various incidents in Dimapur had led to protests and bandhs called by organisations including traders.
Petrol pumps closed for a few days in protest against the abduction of a driver and handyman of an oil tanker by armed miscreants.
The Public Action Committee (PAC) under Naga Council held a 12-hour bandh in protest against the shooting incident on November 20. PAC also demanded action against extortion and syndicates.
The latest was the sensational murder of noted social activist and politician Kevi Zakiesato in Dimapur.
Another worry is the rising number of HIV cases in Nagaland which has been recorded at around 20,000 by October 2018.
As Nagaland looks ahead to 2019, the promise of ‘Change’ which the ruling NDPP promised will be watched. The state is in need for total overhaul in its delivery system.
The roads need massive repairs and construction while power remains abysmal. Nevertheless there is hope that after the years of blatant corruption and mis-governance, the state government will deliver on its promises.