The formation of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government in Nagaland has effectively given the state an opposition-less government for the second time now. The political parties say that UDA was formed in the interest of solving the Naga political issue. All the constituent political parties in Nagaland, with MLAs in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, have joined forces to form the UDA government. Political parties like the Indian National Congress and the Rising People’s Party, who do not have members in the legislature, have cried foul with the RPP even calling it “a fraud on the people.”
The Chief Minister of Nagaland, during his speech on February 15 at the Platinum Jubilee program of Chakhesang Students’ Union at Phek town, said that the 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly have came together to form the opposition-less UDA government to express that they want solution to the Naga political problem. He even cited that the Government of India is willing to grant additional seats in the state legislative assembly and the Parliament to resolve the decades-old Naga political problem. The Chief Minister is even reported to have claimed that the Central Government and the Naga political groups have informed the State Government about their willingness to bring about lasting peace in the state. The next day, Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, attended the Manipur Unit NPF campaign kickoff for the Manipur Legislative Assembly Election 2022, in Senapati, because NPF is an ally of the UDA government in Nagaland.
What is interesting here is that the Nagaland state political parties have shed their differences and come together in the interest of the Naga people. Or so they claim. Only time will testify if they really are for the Naga people or for themselves; if our political leaders are engaging in realpolitik or Machiavellianism.
The term ‘Machiavellian’ is used to define someone who is sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code; to describe a kind of personality disorder, a cold selfishness; and comes from the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, who encouraged “the end justifies the means” behavior, especially among politicians.
Realpolitik is politics based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than explicit ideological notions or moral and ethical premises. It is often simply referred to as “pragmatism” in politics. Realpolitik is practical politics, decided more by the urgent needs of the country or political party, rather than by morals or principles.
Are the Nagaland state political parties and leaders engaging in realpolitik, leaving aside their ideological differences and principles to come together and form an opposition-less government “for the people?” Or, could it be that they are doing so just to stay in power?
Mokokchung Times