The rise and rise of Nephiu Rio : From Kohima to Delhi
- Sangai Express Editorial :: February 24, 2014 -

A well calculated move, one would say.

With poll pundits predicting a BJP led NDA sweep in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election and with the Congress seemingly pushed into a corner in other parts of the country, the decision of Nagaland Chief Minister Mr Nephiu Rio to contest the Lok Sabha election as a candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, comprising of the Naga Peoples’ Front, the BJP and the JD (U), is a timely move, if one may add.

In all probability, Mr Rio will not only be eyeing to represent Nagaland in the Lok Sabha but also be counted more than an MP, which may be read as an attempt to emerge as a leader, whose appeal and reach extends beyond the boundary of Nagaland and the possibility of achieving this is not altogether impossible.

With the BJP keen on bringing the tribals or the STs into its fold, in Mr Rio, the BJP may just find the right man to strike a chord with the tribal people of the North East.

The Congress tried it when PA Sangma was made the Lok Sabha Speaker not to speak of the other assignments given to him, while he was with the party.

The same pattern was followed when Agatha Sangma, the daughter of PA Sangma, was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers as a Minister of State. Mr Rio and his party and alliances in the DAN must have studied and understood the political dynamics sweeping across the country and in the event of Mr Rio winning the election and the BJP led NDA comes to power at the Centre after the election, there is the distinct possibility that Mr Rio will not remain just an MP.

For the BJP to find a toe hold in Nagaland, where the majority of the people are Christians, it has to swim with the NPF and surely Mr Rio and his men must have realised this a long time back.

Works both ways for the BJP and the NPF or DAN. Other than this there are other factors which may work in favour of Mr Rio, if the election results fall in place as predicted by many poll pundits.

One is the growing need for Delhi to demonstrate that the North East as a region is not just an outpost but an integral part of the idea of India as a Nation, especially in the backdrop of the series of assaults and discrimination faced by the people of North East in the metros and other parts of the country.

And inducting an elected representative from the region in the Union Council of Ministers will go a long way in meeting this objective.

This, of course, is not the first time that Mr Rio has proved his mettle beyond the boundary of Nagaland.

As observed and opined in this column earlier, Mr Rio was easily one of the star campaigners during the election to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly in the early parts of 2012.

He has gone beyond that, if his position as the Convenor of the North East Regional Parties Front is anything to go by, a Front which was formed on October 20 last year at Guwahati with political stalwarts from other regional political parties of the region in attendance.

Whether Mr Rio will also don this mantle or be merely satisfied with representing Nagaland, if he is elected to the Lok Sabha remains to be seen and perhaps this is where he will need to tread with caution.

To the people of Manipur, Mr Rio may be seen as one of the chief architects who are behind the moves to disintegrate the territory of Manipur and rightly so.

However despite the different and vastly polarised political aspirations the stride that the NPF leader has made in the last 15 years or so cannot be dismissed that easily.

From being a trusted lieutenant of SC Jamir, to becoming his adversary and turning the political equation in Nagaland in his favour, to now eyeing Delhi not just as an MP but something more, Mr Rio has certainly demonstrated his political acumen, something which no leaders of regional political parties in Manipur have been able to do so for decades.

Taken all these factors into consideration the Lok Sabha election in Nagaland is going to be more than a question of sending just a lone MP to the Lok Sabha but should be seen against the backdrop of what is happening across the country.

This is what is interesting and significant.