Political hotbed: Khonoma - 'Non Khonoma' and Western Angami sentiment

Nirendra Dev *

The importance of Khonoma village in Naga life cannot be underestimated. The importance of Jotsoma village cannot be underestimated in this scribe's life as everything about so-called Journalism and Naga politics with me started there. Jotsoma village's Science College dropout was looking for a door of rebellion and the rest is history.

Both the villages have one thing in common : the fondly called 'Western Angami' assembly constituency. Once upon a time the golden era of Nagaland journalism started with Khonoma. Mhiesizokho Zinyu was a Khonoma man and a keen aspirant for the Congress ticket in 1998.

That year, NPC, NDM and BJP stayed away from the polls. The Congress preferred N T Nakhro, son of former Chief Minister T N Angami. Zinyu was denied the ticket. Nakhro to me was also an All India Radio colleague, Madam Neizokhono Nakhro's husband.

Mhiesi was my boss in the 'Daily Review' as he had played with my ego at a very young age, designating me as the founding 'Executive Editor'. Chief Minister S C Jamir launched the first edition of the daily and we all thought we were proud and obliged to share the dais with the 'powerful' Jamir of the 1996 era.

Politics was getting warmer certainly. In retrospect one would like to know today, who denied the ticket to Zinyu.

Was it one and only powerful S C Jamir?

Even in 1998 the grapevine was always that intra-Tenyimia politics had a role. The needles of suspicion were on two strong men Z Obed and Neiphiu Rio. Were the two senior politicians against the idea of an 'independent mind' Zinyu and an upcoming youngster Asu?

N T Nakhro was a gentleman and was never a potential threat to established players in the power structures. Take the clock five years back -- 1993. The regional NPF had fielded Shurhiu and in the process denied ticket to a young former NSF Speaker Asu Keyho, who was already in the party fold formally.

One story was that the Late Chief Minister Vamuzo's wife Sano Vamuzo's 'Merhuma khel' politics had played a part as Shurihu also belonged to the same. In 1993, the Congress had fielded Dr Setu Legiesie and he had finished third bagging 2723 votes.

Asu ended up as a runner up as an Independent candidate and had polled 2978 votes as against 3215 by Shurhiu. The margin was a modest 237 votes. Grapevine then was that Shurhiu had cleverly played up the 'Khonoma sentiment' and ended up reaching an understanding with the Congress nominee.

Dr Setu's brother Senu Legiesie also knew about the tacit understanding, it was said. Khonoma and the Western Angami politics is again warming up. This time NDPP may create history and field a woman - Ms Salhoutuno Kruse. Of course, things are too early. She is the widow of former NDPP candidate Er Kevisekho Kruse.

But interesting games may unfold. One does not know what Asu Keyho is planning; one does not know what's the road map of sitting legislator Keneizhakho Nakhro, who won 2018 as a NPF nominee and is now with the NDPP. In 1998, Asu as an Independent could avenge all his setbacks and he defeated N T Nakhro of Congress by a margin of 1478 votes. Asu had tried his luck in 2018 on the NPP ticket.

Politics may undergo interesting transition in 2023 polls; or the one to be held after a peace and solution agreement is signed. The Western Angami and the 'Khonoma politics' are always interesting dramas to follow. This village reportedly has about 2000 plus votes and so does Jotsoma. The sitting legislator Nakhro is from Jotsoma and Asu is from Mezoma - which has an estimated 1800 votes.

The 'big players' among the voters would be small townships such as Zubza and also politically crucial four municipal areas -- Dak Lane, New Market, Officers' Hill and Midland.

We used to stay in the Midland area and active politician Abao Kire was in the neighbourhood.