Nagaland: Narendra Modi’s call against corruption deepens NPF-BJP rift; alliance in trouble

The rift between the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance in Nagaland deepens as both the parties engage in issuing press releases criticising each  other.

In a recently released statement, the BJP spokesman Yanghose Sangtam asked why was NPF questioning the visits to villages by the Governor since as head of the state, he could go to any place and meet people in order to understand problems.

The BJP spokesman also said that NGOs, organisations or political parties were free to call on the Governor of the state at Raj Bhavan to air grievances.

Sangtam also reminded the NPF that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland was running on the oxygen of the BJP-led NDA government.

In an interesting note on the present NPF-BJP alliance, the spokesperson also said that the ties between both the parties were broken in 2009 when two MLAs of the national party joined the regional party and only was revived in assembly election held in the year 2013.

The BJP statement was issued as a reply to criticism held by two NPF legislators’ ‘spewed venom’ which said that the governor should not visit places without informing the government and to just find faults.

The NPF leaders had also alleged that the Governor’s office has become a place for RSS and BJP. The NPF has long been feeling disgruntled after the state BJP laid a memorandum in the hands of the Governor PB Acharya on 10 November alleging massive corruption in the NPF-led government and requested his intervention.

BJP’s move came close on the heels of the Governor’s statement that the NPF-led government was corrupt. The Governor made this statement after he made a visit to villages in Nagaland and was reportedly taken aback by the corruption taking place there in the name of implementing schemes such as mid-day meal distribution.

Analysts say that it is interesting to note that the BJP’s version on NPF was harshest of its kind and even hinted a possible severance of ties when it reminded its ally that  the alliance was not continuous but was once broken when two BJP MLAs changed  sides.

“It seems that the BJP is trying to hint that its alliance with the NPF is not unbreakable,” says an analyst.

BJP’s stance on the NPF raises the question whether the saffron party is willing to break ties with it. In an answer to this question, a leader in the state BJP on condition of anonymity said, “The right to decide whether or not to pull out of the government rests on the central leadership of the party.

“We are preparing a memorandum to let our leadership know about the impression the NPF-led government has on the people of the state. We stand behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call against corruption and hence we cannot support corruption carried on by the incumbent NPF-led government anymore,” he said.

On contrary to BJP’s harsh stand, NPF’s counter statement was softer. In a press statement issued by the NPF as a response to BJP spokesperson Yanghose Sangtam’s release, it mostly held the communication gap between the Nagaland government and the Governor responsible for the recent controversy.

The statement also consisted do’s and don’ts for the Governor, reiterating a comment expressed earlier by one of the NPF legislators, that the state governors’ function according to the parliamentary system, further suggesting that Governor’s visits, especially, or particularly to villages, needs to be informed in advance and arrangements to be made properly, considering the fact that Governor is head of the state. This would help lessen a lot of avoidable hardships, confusion and misunderstandings.

The party reasserted that the integrity of Raj Bhawan should be upheld and no political party, including BJP, should misuse the Raj Bhawan.

It also said that the Governor should be a little diplomatic while echoing views as he is  the head of the state.

Going soft on its alliance partner, the statement said, “The BJP Nagaland should not feel agitated because it was BJP themselves who raked up the differences of opinion within the alliance. Both achievements and failures should be jointly owned by all the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland partners. BJP seems to be acting holier than thou. BJP should realise that they won just one seat in the last election. The NDA running the Centre could be the reason why the BJP Nagaland unit has suddenly become so arrogant.”