Nagaland leg of Rahul Yatra : Search for the Congress relevance

Nirendra Dev *

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack".

It's paradoxical, and a bit historical. A party which ruled Nagaland for years and was graced by nationalists such as Hokishe Sema, S C Jamir, J B Jasokie -- and many of them sustained bullet injuries, the same Congress has lost its relevance in Nagaland.

In two subsequent assembly polls - 2018 and 2023 the Congress score has been zero.

The 2023 performance had a more truthful message. All parties contesting the polls this year in Nagaland -- likes of little known RPI (Athawale) and LJP (Ram Vilas) could open their account; but Congress scored zero.

India's grand old party contested 23 seats out of 60 and total votes polled was 40,810. The vote share being 3.56 per cent. Compared to it, NCP's vote share was 9.56 (7 seats). National People's Party of Conrad Sngma 5.76 - 5 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 8.64 - 2 seats and Republican Party of India (Athawale) polled 3.69 percent of votes -- also won 2 seats.

The name or word Congress does no longer evoke excitement in Nagaland politics these days. The near dismissive phrase is -- "hoisey ho...alsi asey (roughly could mean -- It's all over, what else will happen).

In national politics too, the Congress has been unable to electrify its cadres and hence slowly, it fazed out in many parts of India. So, what's the relevance of Rahul Gandhi's 'Nyay Yatra' in Nagaland?

Some answers lie best either in silence or in the womb of time.

Looking back, one can say the golden opportunity to revive Congress after the setback of 2003 was between 2004 and 2014 -- when the UPA was in power.

As Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, incidentally then a MP from Assam, did not visit Nagaland. The ultimate push to resolve the Naga issue was not there even as some attempts were reportedly made by K Therie; but the idea was rejected with some kind of warning by stakeholders.

Thus, Rahul enters Nagaland when every Congressman and woman -- the last surviving ones and their sympathisers - find themselves at the heart of a conflict.

Fury and frustration, not grief, are the public sentiments now. The blunders and non performance of a father are as if suddenly visited upon the children. Memories may still glamorize the past; but Life has speeded up without making the protagonists aware of it.

Corruption as a habit has passed on to new rulers; and yet there were hopes raised in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Tokheho Yepthomi of NDPP almost lost to Congress candidate K L Chishi.

The former Chief Minister says his trial and error will continue; but it is a fact that such enduring fighting spirit almost revived Congress. But once 2019 Lok Sabha polls were over, the Congress leaders retired into their respective personal backstages. The Chishi-Therie duo was hardly a Team.

Prior to that in the run up to the general elections, Chishi was ably supported and 'extended help' by outside political elements. A few former legislators including Hukavi Zhimomi and Asu Keyho were in their pro-active roles. The Congress leaders never thought of sharing a few moments of political solidarity with them once the elections were over.

Asu is now the state unit president of AAP while Hukavi has swallowed his anti-Rio spirit with the black tea sitting in his riverside house at Dimapur.

Even as we pen these lines, one has not heard of any AAP-Congress coordination in Nagaland. Both Asu himself and present Nagaland pradesh Congress president Supong Meren are from NSF background; yet till date no meeting ground ! And elections are not far off.

Rahul Gandhi's visit and Yatra have all the potentials for selfies and VVIP darshans; but can there be anything more?

If in national politics Narendra Modi is blessed with the confused Opposition leadership and lacklustre Congress; are two former Congress leaders Chingwang Konyak and Neiphiu also are blessed Netas -- when Chishis and Theries are more active in fighting each other?

The NSF background boys Asu Keyho and Supong Meren must revive their activism of youth; they owe it to themselves.

We are often what we pretend to be, so we must be careful. Sincerity is a true measure of the fighting spirit.