With the victories in Nagaland and Meghalaya, which house overwhelming Christians and Janjatis, the BJP leadership feels that the tag of ‘Hindu Chauvanism’ would now be countered forcefully
Failure is often an orphan and none would own it up. On the other hand, the success will always see many competing for the credit of having fathered it. The election outcome in Nagaland and Meghalaya–two Christian stronghold states–is certainly an episode where success and failure ought to be debated.
The BJP’s jubilation was well articulated by the Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad – when he said: “In spite of very vicious campaign against the BJP among the Christian minorities, the BJP has won 12 out of 20 seats we fought polling 15 per cent of votes in Nagaland”. He said even in Goa there are substantial Christian population and the BJP is in power in the state for third time. “In Nagaland, we have been important players earlier also,” he pointed out adding that the poll results of Tripura will certainly have its “resonance” in another communists-ruled state Kerala, which too houses sizeable Christians.
Over the years, the BJP has been at the receiving end of allegations from political detractors for pursuing anti-Christian and anti-Muslim politics. Therefore, with the victories in these states, which house overwhelming Christians and Janjatis, the BJP leaders feel the tag of ‘Hindu Chauvanism’ would be countered forcefully.
In Nagaland the BJP’s performance was impressive. Out of the 20 seats it contested, the BJP could win 12, highest so far in Nagaland. The vote share was about 15.3 per cent. In 2003, their earlier best record was seven seats in the 60-member House. “We contested 40 seats but won 18. The BJP did much better winning 12 out of 20 seats,” said Neiphiu Rio, Chief Ministerial face of BJP-NDPP alliance.
Christian bodies were definitely against BJP. In the run up to the polls, the apex Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) had cautioned “all Christians” against the threat posed to their faith by the ‘Hindutva’ ideology. “It was a bounded duty of the church to speak out on issues concerning their faith such as electoral evils that posed grave harm on society and ‘Hindutva’ ideology that is against other minority religions in India,” NBCC general secretary Rev Zelhou Keyho tried to justify their move.
For its part, the BJP had denied the charges of being anti-Christian. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was also poll-in charge for BJP in Nagaland, had countered: “Our opponents have nothing to say about us as we have tackled corruption and other issues successfully and so they have raised the religious bogey”.
Nevertheless in any segments in Nagaland – BJP finished second. These include KL Chishi, a former Chief Minister, who lost Atoizu constituency by a margin of 838 votes only. The likes of former NPF leader Jacob Zhimomi in Nagaland, who joined the BJP in January this year – could, however, sail home in Ghaspani-I.
Significantly, from BJP’s point of view – the acceptability of the saffron party only increased as both regional parties NDPP and Naga People’s Front (NPF) expressed desire to do business with it. In fact, on the eve of elections, BJP”s disgruntled ally in NPF, which parted ways with it in the run up to the polls, tried reaching out to the ruling dispensation in the Centre.
NPF sources said the party is not against “realigning with BJP” as it wants a congenial atmosphere for the “ongoing political dialogue”. BJP and NPF had been allies since 2003 and in the run-up to the recently concluded Nagaland Assembly elections, the BJP and the NPF were engaged in a vitriolic verbal war. The NPF chief, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, had even declared the 2018 Nagaland Assembly elections as a choice between ‘outsiders’ and ‘Naga identity’ while asking voters not to ‘gamble with their faith, culture and identity.’ Assam Minister and convenor of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Himanta Biswa Sarma said the BJP has severed ties with NPF and chosen the NDPP to provide a stable Government in Nagaland.
The beleaguered NPF leader TR Zeliang – apparently – is now left in the lurch. This round of battle has finally seemed to have gone in favour of Neiphiu Rio, a former Chief Minister. Notably, Rio, who was once a flag bearer of Congress, emerged one of the “tallest regionalists” when he humbled the Congress in the 2013 Assembly election. In what is called the worst ever performance by the Congress that year, its strength dwindled to eight in the 60-member house. That practically started the Congress-free Nagaland and in a subsequent assembly by-election even veteran SC Jamir lost from the Aonglenden constituency. Little wonder in 2018, the Congress struggled to put up candidates and finally all its 19 nominees lost the polls. The Congress vote share in Nagaland dropped to 2.1 per cent.
Congress dethroned
With 21 members, the Congress under Mukul Sangma had emerged single largest party in Meghalaya – clearly falling short of 10 members in the 60-member Assembly. Mukul Sangma was in the coveted office for the last 10 years. Meghalaya Congress working president and Lok Sabha MP Vincent H Pala said the party leaders including Rahul Gandhi’s trusted man Ahmed Patel met Governor Ganga Prasad and wanted that ‘single largest party” should be given opportunity to form government and prove the majority on the floor of the House.
“We paraded 34 MLAs including 19 members from NPP and six UDP besides two from BJP and also Independents. Conrad Sangma will be the next Chief Minister of Meghalaya,” BJP leader and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters in Shillong. The swearing in ceremony was held on March 6.
Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel, had rushed to Shillong to try to cobble together an alliance with regional parties but the efforts did not yield desired results. The Governor”s decision to invite Conrad Sangma to head the new dispensation can be seen as a setback for Congress as in the process the grand old party would be out of seat of power in yet another state.
The Congress is now left with power only in Mizoram, Punjab and poll-bound Karnataka and of course – the Union Territory of Puducherry. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said: “It’s positive development that regional parties got together to work for the state”s development. It’s people’s decision”.
“As a party we met and discussed formation of government. We all decided that we should form a non-Congress government to be headed by NPP leader Conrad Sangma,” Donkupar Roy, president of United Democratic Party, said earlier.
The BJP leadership which seems to have launched a mission to ensure “Congress-free India” apparently draws a satisfaction in the fact that a non-Congress regime will take over the reins in the scenic state.
Son of the late PA Sangma, the 40-year-old Conrad has held key portfolios like Finance, Power and Tourism and was also Leader of the Opposition in Meghalaya Assembly. At present he represents Tura in Lok Sabha and will be required to give up his seat and also win an Assembly seat within six months. His sister Agatha Sangma is also elected member on NPP ticket from South Tura Assembly segment.
(Swati Deb is a freelance journalist and covered Northeastern states’ elections for Organiser)
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