Skip to content Skip to navigation

Rio can't outsmart Zeliang in Nagaland politics

New Delhi, March 5: The high voltage drama in Nagaland has reached its climax where Neiphu Rio’s dream to take oath as chief minister might be shattered at any moment.

NPF has threatened to withdraw support from the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur If the central leadership keeping ignoring the plea to allow TR Zeliang as chief minister whose party secured 28 seats, just away from three seats to cross the majority mark.

The development took this queer turn a day after the NDPP chief staked claims to form the government with support from BJP and independent. Rio, however, has yet to submit the details of the legislators who promised him their supports.

Sources told Assam Times that top BJP leaders at the Centre have strongly expressed their resentment against the NDDP chief and three times Chief Minister of Nagaland.

Rio was caught in a simmering controversy as he and his henchmen were involved in the anti BJP activities in 2004 when he was at the helm of NPF and prime minister Narendra Modi and a top RSS functionary, therefore, disallowed him from getting a cabinet berth after he won the Lok Sabha polls.

Rio repeated the same in 2008 after which he shot off a letter to the then Supremo of UPA Sonia Gandhi stating that he had “successfully uprooted BJP from Nagaland.” 

The letter reached the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, a top RSS functionary revealed on anonymity. In 2014, Rio was denied a Union ministerial berth because of his ‘anti-BJP action.

In 2003  BJP won 7 seats in Nagaland, in 2008 the number decreased to 2 which was further reduced to 1 in 2013. This time around, BJP has secured 12 seats out of 20, the entire credit of which goes to BJP Election Incharge for Nagaland Kiren Rijiju though Madhav has been occupying the limelight of late.

Top BJP  leaders are in favour of incumbent Chief Minister, TR Zeliang and his NPF Party that managed to secure 27 seats out of 58 in the recently declared elections result. 

General elections will be held in April or May 2019 to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha and BJP leaders may likely form the Government in Nagaland in alliance with its long-time ally, the NPF Party. 

NPF has the ability, without doubt, to break up the Government in Manipur which has 4 NPF MLAs . In such an event, BJP will lose two MP seats  from Manipur.

One Lok Sabha seat recently vacated by NDPP Chief, Rio in Nagaland is likely to go to the NPF Party given its strength of 27 seats out of 60 in the State Assembly in the event of a by-election.

Shortage of 3 seats in the Lok Sabha is not something the BJP Party would exchange for a NDDP-BJP led Government in Nagaland

Top BJP leaders led by its President, Amit Shah is reported to have consulted Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Chances of NDPP Chief Ministerial Candidate, Rio and his NDPP Party with 17 seats landing in hot soup despite claims of securing BJP’s support in formation of the Government in Nagaland cannot be ruled out.

Add new comment

Random Stories

4th International Yoga Day Celebrated in Hojai.

21 Jun 2018 - 7:53pm | Nikhil Mundra
  In photo: Hojai MLA, Shiladitya Deb along with government officials performing Yoga at Hojai Indoor Stadium Campus in Hojai on Thursday.    HOJAI:- Along with rest of the World,...

Solve Bodoland issue, Promod urges

21 Dec 2016 - 8:50am | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Promod Boro, president of the influential All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has urged government of India to solve the long standing demand of Bodoland separate issue through political dialogue to meet...

Tripura ready to take children back

5 Mar 2015 - 5:52pm | AT News
A team of Tripura police is arriving in Guwahati on March 10 to take away 16 children two weeks after they were rescued from the Guwahati Railway station.Tripura police officials told reporters on...

Stop rash driving

9 Jul 2015 - 12:52pm | AT News
An undeclared race of rash driving is to be blamed for Thursday accident at Paltanbazar where five people sustained serious injury.Eyewitness told Assam Times that the city bus which was coming from...

Other Contents by Author

Guwahati: After months of will-it-won’t-it, the state election commission on Wednesday announced the schedule for the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. The poll for the state’s largest urban local body will take place on April 19 covering 60 wards. According to official information, 7,96,829 voters will exercise their franchise at 789 booths from 7-30 in the morning till 5.30 in the afternoon. The authorities have announced the notification where the model code of conduct has come into force. Counting will take place on April 21.  
Guwahati: Congress candidate Ripun Bora along with BJP, UPPL Pabitra Margherita and Rwngwra Narzary have filed nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election for 2 seats slated for March 31. Bora, the incumbent elder, filed his nomination papers accompanied by 43 Opposition MLAs in the morning while Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was present when Margerita and Narzary filed their nomination papers before the returning officer on Monday. The BJP is sure of smooth sailing in one seat (Margherita) while cross voting might hamper the prospect of Ripun Bora much to the benefit of the UPPL candidate.  The polling will take place on March 31. The results are expected on the...
Kokrajhar: Rangaura Narzary will contest the Rajya Sabha polls slated for March 31. Narzary will receive support as UPPL, the ruling coalition allies for the second seat, while BJP has sealed the fate of the first seat with Pabitra Margherita as the candidate. Narzary, the UPPL candidate, is getting support from BJP,  AGP and BPF against Ripun Bora of Congress who is expecting support from the Opposition parties.
New Delhi: Congress has named Ripun Bora as the party candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha poll slated for March 31. Bora, the incumbent, will be the candidate for the second seat who is expecting support from Congress,  AIUDF,  CPI and others.  The ruling party has already named Pabitra Margherita as the candidate for the first seat and skipped the name for the second seat since it lacks numbers.   Earlier BJP leaders claimed to have been preparing to name candidates for both seats.  Congress also had a few rounds of hectic confabulation with AIUDF leadership.  The terms of Ripun Bora and Renee Narah will expire on April 2.
New Delhi: The BJP's central leadership has named Pabitra Margherita as the party candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections slated for March 31. The party issued a list on Friday where the ruling party has not named anybody for the second seat.   The ruling coalition lacks the numbers to get yet another candidate to get elected smoothly.  Only a united opposition has the chance for smooth sailing in it.  Opposition parties are having hectic confabulation to ensure their candidate, while Ripun Borah is said to be a strong contender.  Bora and his party are in touch with AIUDF.
New Delhi,14th March, 2022: Powered by people, Earth Hour is one of the largest environmental movements in the world. This year as we continue adapting our lives to the impacts of COVID-19 and the catastrophic events of the past two years, Earth Hour 2022 aims to signal to Shape Our Future. It will herald a new era that puts people and the planet first. As India marks its 75 years of Independence, it is important to recognize the efforts and actions made by people in the past and appeal to every citizen to be a conservation hero for the future. Joining the movement, our Harmony and Hope Ambassador,  Shantanu Moitra and leading Bollywood playback singer Mohit Chauhan have...
Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate-1 (SDJM 1) Kamrup (M) has directed Dispur police to register a case against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on the basis of a complaint by MP Abdul Khaleque. Khaleque alleged that the Chief Minister made inflammatory remarks over an eviction drive at Gorukhuti in Darang district. Khaleque  approached the court after the Dispur police station did not register an FIR against Sarma,  Present: Sri. B. Baruah, AJS, SDJM 1, Kamrup (M) Dated: 05.03.2022 Complainant Abdul Khaleque is absent with steps showing cause vide petition bearing number 3162 and the prayer of the complainant to dispense with his personal presence...
Guwahati: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls for 2 seats. Polling will take place on March 31 from the morning and results will be announced towards the evening. The ruling coalition has every chance of winning one of the two seats while the Opposition, if it remains united,  will be able to win one seat.  Hectic confabulation has yet to take place in the opposition camp.  According to the information, Congress leadership is expected to talk to AIUDF in this regard on March 9. The term for Ripun Bora and AIUDF will expire on April 2 this year.
Majuli: Political parties are giving last minute efforts in Majuli to woo the voters a day before the end of the heat and dust of electioneering for assembly by polls slated for March 7. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended as many as 10 rallies in the river island urging the voters of the largest river island to support party candidate Bhuban Gam. The opposition Congress, AJP and Raijor Dal are equally escalating campaign with Chittranjan Basumatary as candidates. Congress  state president Bhupen Bora, AJP president Lurinjoti Gogoi and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi have been holding joint rallies urging the people to beat BJP. Over 60,000 voters will exercise their franchise...
Bokakhat: A 60 year old daily wage earner died when he was hit by a car attached to a convoy of Ramnath Kovind as the President was on his way to Kaziranga National Park on Saturday. The incident took place in the morning as the man was trying to cross the National Highway defying the movement of the presidential cavalcade loaded with heavyweights. A pall of gloom descended into the entire area following the death of a worker who was identified as Ravidas.