Politics in Nagaland have always been overly simplistic. In Nagaland, it was widely believed that those with money and influence would always prevail and it has for a long time now.
The Congress and NPF had long held sway over Nagaland’s political scene, but that all changed in 2017 with the emergence of the regional NDPP, which brought along with it the rise of the BJP, another national party. The Indian National Congress, the only national party to have ever existed in Nagaland with success till that point of time, was gradually wiped out from the state. However, regardless of the party, Nagaland’s ruling party has not always been in opposition to the ruling party at the Centre. Clearly, the ruling party in Delhi has a tremendous impact on Nagaland state politics.
It is no secret that the BJP is gaining traction throughout Nagaland, particularly in the regions of central and eastern Nagaland, and is noticeably receiving widespread public support. There are also presumptions that an internal friction is prone to happen between NDPP and BJP as the latter continue to influence the constituencies. However, it is also worth noting that the Indian National Congress is on a revival mode.
With the successful launch of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 9, the BJP is rattled like never before. Thousands of people march every day with Rahul Gandhi, showering him with love and praise, and it appears that it is getting under the BJP’s thick skin.
Additionally, the BJP must be concerned about the split with Nitish Kumar’s JDU, the crushing defeat in Bengal against Mamata’s TMC, the rise of KCR in Tamil Nadu, the bitter split with Thackeray’s Sena, and the concept of ‘opposition unity.’ Furthermore, the impending presidential election for the Congress, planned for October 17 between Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge, is undoubtedly reviving the Grand Old Party’s lost luster. Along with it, Tharoor’s visage is drawing many young Indians, intelligentsia, liberals, and India’s middle class closer to Congress.
What is remarkable among all of this is Nagaland’s youth’s unexpected interest in the Congress and KL Chishi’s candid declaration to run on a Congress ticket. Meanwhile, NPCC president K. Therie appears to have grown bolder and more assured in his criticism of the current government. And it can only be projected that there must be a reason as to why Congress suddenly appears so strong. Furthermore, groups such as the RPP and NPP, which are highly opposed to the current ruling NDPP-BJP alliance, in all likelihood may form an alliance with either the Congress or the NPF.
In the midst of all of this, the visit to Nagaland by the Bihar CM, a willing ally of the Indian National Congress in Bihar at the moment, the TMC’s interest in Nagaland after the Oting incident and the endless visits of Union Ministers to Nagaland is an indication that national politics has merged with Nagaland’s significantly. And this brings to the conclusion that, Nagaland getting entwined with national politics is about to be the highlight of the Assembly Election 2023 and thus, the forthcoming election will be intriguing, particularly in places like Dimapur where every party seem to have a foothold.