Nagaland's new CM faces same old mess

With Shurhozelie Liezietsu taking the oath as chief minister of Nagaland on Wednesday, it is to be hoped that the border state will return to a semblance of normality after the violent turmoil it went through recently when Naga tribal groups secured the ouster of CM T.R. Zeliang. It appears that the Nagaland People’s Front, the majority party leading the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, zeroed in on 81-year-old Mr Liezietsu, the party’s president, in order to avoid serious controversy on the choice of leader. NPF Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, former CM and seasoned political leader, was waiting in the wings, hoping for an opportunity to steer the state administration again. He has been a leader of a dissident NPF faction.

The BJP has only four MLAs in the state but is a part of the ruling coalition. Initially, it appeared to back Mr Zeliang to the hilt in the expectation he would be able to ride the storm of protest that was launched to challenge the urban local bodies election, for which the Zeliang government allowed 33 per cent reservation for women, as mandated by Article 243T of the Constitution. When this didn’t look like happening, the Centre apparently advised the CM to throw in the towel and pave the way for a new leader.

This tactical retreat was necessary, or the border state might have continued to simmer. But several questions remain. These can potentially impact political stability in the long run.

The protesters argued that as per Naga customary law, women cannot hold public office, and the Naga way of life is safeguarded by Article 371A of the Constitution. This argument is, of course, not sustainable. Women’s political empowerment cannot be a matter of negotiation.

However, the outgoing CM appears to have tried to bulldoze his way through on the women’s reservation issue. He could have chosen a more tactical course and politically negotiated with various factions that make up the Nagaland Tribal Action Committee, which includes church groups. Finally, Mr Zeliang had to resign as CM.

It may not be without significance that after resigning, he publicly praised Mr Rio for helping to restore normality. It’s to be seen if he joins forces with Mr Rio in a bid to unsettle the regime that was sworn in on Wednesday.

At any rate, the Liezietsu government will eventually have to deal with the question of women’s reservation in the election for urban local bodies. If this is not done swiftly, Dimapur in the state, which is one of the cities in the country chosen for investment as a smart city, may have to relinquish that space. Apart from such factors, there is also the absolute need for stability in a border state.