'Bihari parties' having a blast in Nagaland elections

Nirendra Dev *

Well, the Election Festival is here in Nagaland. It is the 'free for all' season. Right from the morning there is a festive mood in most candidates' houses. Pigs will be slaughtered and hens will be roasted and tonnes of vegetables and rice will be boiled. That's normal. Who pays is not important; who eats and does not eat could be important.

Importantly, the mistresses of the house ought to meet the guests personally and hand over small envelopes for 'gaari bhara'. That's poll time. All these are normal. But this time there is substantial 'Thekuas (noted Bihari delicacy)' also on distribution and visitors have option of Puri-Sabzi.

Why is 'Bihari party' around this time? The reasons have nothing to do with Nitish Kumar's Prime Ministerial ambition or Chirag Paswan looking for a story plot to revive his Bollywood career.

The reasons are more fundamental and political. The so-called 'NDA tag' goes in favour of the LJP (Ram Vilas) led by Late Ram Vilas Paswan's actor-turned-neta Chirag Paswan. Besides JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas), there is yet another Bihar-based party RJD in play. Even in 2008 Lalu Prasad-led outfit had done well in the assembly elections and polled 6.35 percent votes.

Certain things are also coincidental. The elections seem very interesting this time. NDPP and BJP are in alliance and other players include the Congress, the AAP, the NPP and state-based Nagaland People's Front (NPF).

With the BJP sealing a deal 'favouring NDPP' -- 20:40 formula in 60-member assembly - many BJP ticket aspirants are left in the lurch. They do not want to trust regional parties nor an outfit like the Congress - which is zero-member strong. Worse, the Congress did not have enough funds and candidates in 2018 and contested only 18 seats.

Hence the move towards LJP (Ram Vilas) is strategic. "If not BJP itself, let us be with a friend of BJP. That speaks volume about Narendra Modi's popularity and hopefully the people who decide political course in Nagaland understand this," 25-year-old Bob Yepthomi told 'Organiser'.

There are many others. Hardcore anti-NDPP politicians and supporters are changing colours. It's time, to be practical is the refrain. Politics is also about opportunism and last time we heard Netas calling it 'pragmatism'.

Now, on Friday, JD(U) suffered a mega jolt as its candidate for Ghaspani II - Kitoho Rotokha resigned from the party and joined the LJP (Ram Vilas). Rotokha is no pushover and he is taking the contest seriously as his rival is Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio's brother and a sitting member Zhaleo Rio,

Therefore, even 'Naga Christian leaders' who had certain issues with the saffron party are now too keen for business with the Lotus flags fluttering the roof tops. And once 'denied' tickets, several of them are keen to deal with the Bihar-based party led by Junior Paswan.

Well, if the real underdog in this year's contest in Nagaland is the LJP (Ram Vilas), for political punches JD(U) and RJD are also around.

Chirag Paswan in a statement says, his party will take up "the Indo-Naga political issue in Parliament to bring an amicable and meaningful solution." This is a mild message in content but crucial in the sense of timing.

People even in Nagaland know, Chirag's father Late Ram Vilas Paswan was a virtual 'perfect psephologist' who has worked with all PMs since H D Deve Gowda as Minister including under Manmohan Singh, Vajpayee and Modi in the cabinet.

But the twist in the plot must be understood in the deeper studies.

G Kaito Aye, now NDPP candidate from Sataka, had won on JD-U ticket in 2018. This did not impact his political fortunes or the future of JD-U in Nagaland as he quickly extended loyalty to Neiphiu Rio and gradually dumped Nitish Kumar's party.

The same fate will await 'winners' in LJP, JD-U or any other so-called not so established parties in Nagaland.

According to sources, this factor has prevented the AAP chief, Arvind Kejriwal, from investing much. NPP leader and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma lost two MLAs in 2018-19 and hence he is reluctant to pump in money.

The taste of the cake is in its eating. How Junior Paswan's MLAs will ultimately behave after results are out and the process of government formation starts will have to be seen only after March 3 when votes will be counted.

Till then there is no shortfall in demands for saffron flags or Thekuas.