Coalition Government and its periphery

Thanglenmang Kipgen *

Nongthombam Biren Singh sworn-in as CM at Raj Bhavan on 15th March 2017 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The country had recently witnessed a highly unexpected mandate in the five poll bound states. A clear majority for Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, and a hot potato mandate for Goa and Manipur. While the Congress wrest power from SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab winning 77 of the 117 seats, the BJP won 312 (of 403 seats) in UP and 57 (of 70 seats) in Uttarakhand respectively. In Manipur and Gao, BJP came second after Congress but form coalition governments in both the states.

The supposed political immortality of the Congress in Manipur has unexpectedly ended with the swearing-in ceremony of Shri N. Biren Singh as the new Chief Minister of a BJP led coalition government on March 15, 2017. Along with him were eigth other Cabinet Ministers including Yumnam Joykumar Singh, former DGP (Retd.) from NPP, as Deputy Chief Minister.

The political scenerio soon after the declaration of result in Manipur is a clear reflection of divisive voters in the state. The BJP secured highest share of votes, i.e., 36.3% and won 21 seats, whereas the Congress came closed securing 35.1% but won 28 seats, seven more than BJP.

The type of federation employed in the country inhibits the non-centre-congruent party of the states in forming the government. As history shows it, future repercussions can claim a place in a coalition government and thus the credibility of an alliance depends on the compromising potential of internal conflicts within.

Ethnic aspiration in the north-eastern states makes the political course entirely different from the mainstream politics. In Manipur, the massive challenges that the present alliance could face is the political course of ethnic aspiration at different levels, and the ability of this post-poll alliance in stabilizing dissensions.

In a condition where a party does not secure a clear majority but needed an alliance to form the government, delivering political stability can always be doubtful. Moreover the present political dynamics in Manipur might make it more favourable, especially w.r.t the highly polarised ethnic composition and share of political powers allocated in the alliance.

Some other visible challenges that await the coalition government are the deep divide between the valleys and the hills, the prolonged disenchantment of AFSPA, unresolved issue of non-local regulation, etc.

Dissenssions may also be expected from the Nagaland based NPF whose ultimate objective is integration of Naga inhabited areas. The issue of Framework Agreement between Government of India and NSCN-IM on the one hand, and territorial integrity on the other, has practically no visible meeting point as of now.

If not money and muscle power, election manifestos are primary tentacles that hook up voters. It is necessary that a concerned citizen should keep oneself reminded of the promises that a party made. As a matter of fact, the three major ethnic groups of the state make things complex.

Any steps of the government, be it those related with developmental policy or otherwise, if it affect the perceived interest of any community, is likely to be dissented. In this triangular composition, the coalition will need a consensual legislation that could mitigate community ethnocentrism or any preferential legislation. For a stable alliance, incorporation of different views and striking a balanced decision is essential. However, the absence of a common minimum program (CMP) in the alliance provides a room for suspicion in the minds of the people.

Electoral promises made are often tall and catchy and one could wonder its veracity but hope for it. The BJP’s promises of ending the ongoing economic blockade, pipe water and a job for every household are the silver-lining which the people would eagerly look forward to.

While the NPF bid for integration of pan Naga families, the NPP stood for improving health infrastructures, education and rooting out corruption as some of its top priority. If governance in the coalition has to go by party ideologies and manifestoes, there are areas where effective deliberation for finding a common ground is essential. In a state of affairs where contradictions are inevitable, just action based on natural justice is the only solution.

Some other issues which need immediate attention are to materialize the disputed sports university, to solve the menace of unregulated drugs among the youths, tackle random parkings in the city, restoration of clean and quality education, and to give political solution for the armed groups.

In every vibrant democratic state, successive government is expected to take governance to a new level by amending the past administrative leakages. The charismatic leadership of the prime minister had saffronised state after state and Manipur is no longer an exception.

A state which paid allegiance to the palm for long is now reeling under the roof of lotus. As the numbers suggest, the perpetuity of Modi wave in Manipur is not certain. The strength of the opponent Congress with 28 (now reduced to 27) is an indication of a new political atmosphere where legislative battles would be fought in a cumbersome process.

The current development unambiguously calls for a visionary leadership who can engineer the new platform as a system to bring communal harmony, peace and development in the state. However, the first and foremost challenges facing the newly crowned Chief Minister is unfortunately to maintain stability, and other comes later.