Nagaland CM Rio camping with Ministers : Likely to meet Shah on UCC, 'Eastern Nagaland'
Source: Nirendra Dev *

New Delhi, July 02 2023: Suspense remains how will Uniform Civil Code UCC figure at talks and whether it could lead to break up of 20 years old between Neiphiu Rio and BJP in Nagaland.

Chief Minister and NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio is camping in the national capital and is keen to lead his cabinet or council of ministers for a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah for detailed discussions on the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory.

According to sources 'appointment' has been sought either on Monday afternoon or later.

While Ministers such as G Kaito Aye and Temjen Imna are already in Delhi, a few more would be arriving either on Sunday (tomorrow) or Monday.

The Nagaland ministers camping in New Delhi is being considered as a 'significant' episode in the context of continuous tension in Manipur and also the NDPP lately issuing a statement against the Uniform Civil Code.

A BJP leader has stated that the Supreme Court has said on a number of occasions that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) should be implemented as soon as possible.

"Introducing a common civil code for the populace will surely have adverse result in achieving the ideals of the country," the Rio-led NDPP, a BJP ally since 2018, said in a statement.

Earlier Rio as NPF leader had ties with the saffron party since 2003 when he first became the Chief Minister ousting SC Jamir.

There is a fast-paced progress in alliance talks between NDPP and parties such as the NCP.

But both the parties maintaining silence on the matter.

Notably even in the present council of ministers, he has BJP Ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton.

It is not clear whether Chief Minister himself or any one of his ministers will raise the UCC matters with Shah.

Meanwhile, there is an undercurrent of 'absence' of coordination between NDPP and BJP and the saffron party leader Patton on June 30 held a meeting at Kohima wherein BJP candidates who lost assembly elections in February this year were specially invited.

It is understood, some BJP leaders believe that a number of saffron party nominees were defeated by parties such as NPP, NCP and JD-U and most of them were allegedly backed by the NDPP.

"Had a constructive meeting with our victorious BJP (Nagaland) legislators and the party candidates who didn't make it this time.

I believe each one of us has a role to play for a stronger BJP and Nagaland.

Had discussions on using our collective experiences to strengthen the party," Patton tweeted later.

In the 60-member assembly, Rio-led NDPP had won 25 in February polls while the BJP could win only 12 seats.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP had won 7 and Conrad Sangma's NPP had picked up 5 and LJP (Ram Vilas) had bagged 2 .

Among the remaining NPF has 2, JD(U) - 1, Republican Party of India (Athawale) - 2 and there are four independents.

It is also whispered the Rio had backed a few candidates in the NCP and also NPP in the polls.

There is speculation for sometime that the Chief Minister Rio is not very comfortable with the BJP and by dumping 12 saffron party MLAs he could explore the possibilities of mustering support of parties such as the NCP and the NPP.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) issue could be a trigger to part ways between BJP and the NDPP.

However, sources also maintain that Rio is a "pragmatic politician" and he will be the last man to antagonize the Lotus party leadership when corruption-related investigations are on by the Enforcement Directorate.

Moreover, Rio enjoys good working relations with key BJP leaders including Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convener Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The BJP central leadership is also 'not very keen' to lose out Rio and NDPP as the Chief Minister has been an old ally and moreover, the saffron party camp is making efforts to 'expand' the NDA base in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Key NDA constituents Akali Dal and JD(U) have parted ways from the BJP and among these two relationship with Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has particularly grown bitter.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at nirendev1(AT)gmail(DOT)com .

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