Tag: Nagaland Politics

Nagaland – TR Zeliang should show something on the ground

By Oken Jeet Sandham Ever since the TR Zeliang government came in a little over one month back, the overall administration and political environment continues to remain still unpredictable. No

By Oken Jeet Sandham
Ever since the TR Zeliang government came in a little over one month back, the overall administration and political environment continues to remain still unpredictable. No major programs and policies are initiated and the state government machineries are still visibly weak. Things are increasingly complex day by day and looking at the whole scenario, it appears that chief minister TR Zeliang is being bogged down and helpless in bridling his “jumbo size ministry.”
For the first time after becoming the chief minister of Nagaland, he admitted state’s pathetic financial position during the joint meeting of council of ministers, AHODs, HODs, on June 17 at secretariat conference hall, Kohima. Then after few days, he had given a statement to the press mentioning state’s estimated deficit at the tune of over Rs 1200 crore. This is not everything for the financial woes of the state, the loans taken by the state since 2003 to 2013 is Rs 5972.93 crore which in fact has exceeded the permitted limits of taking loans by the state. Although his remark that further appointment should be stopped was heard, it is extremely doubtful that such step would work.
It is true that then NDA prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had shown extra-ordinary care and concern for then Neiphiu Rio’s 1stDAN government which was, in fact, fortunate enough that it had not only got Rs 365 crore as one time grant to wipe out state’s accumulated deficit but also received another huge economic package of Rs 1053 crore. But such sops from the Vajpayee government in 2003 did not stop the Rio ministry from taking loans as stated above. However, one should not forget that then Rio’s 1st DAN government had enjoyed that entire unprecedented economic grant and package from then Vajpayee government was only because seven BJP MLAs were there in the ministry. In the 1st DAN government, the BJP was the second largest party with seven MLAs while NPF with nineteen MLAs.
The DAN-I government after enjoying all these economic facilities from then Vajpayee government had to continue for the next 10 years with the next Congress-led UPA governments at the Center. During this period, the Annual Plan Size of the state kept increasing till such time the state had to experience negative Plan Size in 2013. Only after this expected trend, state government started narrating different stories that the Center had done away with the funding pattern which it enjoyed till 1989. This is the same story Dr SC Jamir as chief minister used to tell us demanding the Center to revert back to the pre-1989 funding pattern.
The economic growth pushes nation’s wealth and also enhances its potential for reducing poverty and solving other social problems. However, such trend failed to make the human development progressed. Instead such economic growth was achieved at the cost of greater inequity, higher unemployment, weakened democracy, loss of cultural identity, or overconsumption of resources needed by future generations. As the links between economic growth and social and environmental issues are better understood, experts including economists tend to agree that this kind of growth is inevitably unsustainable—that is, it cannot continue along the same line for long, stated a recent document of the United Nations.
The United Nations explains that it is not difficult to point out which country is richer and which one is poorer. But indicators of wealth, which reflect the quantity of resources available to a society, provide no information about the allocation of those resources—for instance, about more or less equitable distribution of income among social groups, about the shares of resources used to provide free health and education services, and about the effects of production and consumption on people’s environment. Thus it is no wonder that states with similar average incomes can differ substantially when it comes to people’s quality of life: access to education and health care, employment opportunities, availability of clean air and safe drinking water, the threat of crime, and so on.
To be sustainable, economic growth must be constantly nourished by the fruits of human development such as improvements in workers’ knowledge and skills along with opportunities for their efficient use: more and better jobs, better conditions for new businesses to grow, and greater democracy at all levels of decision making.
Looking at the present state of affairs in Nagaland, the chief minister will have a very unpredictable journey and of course, one can’t blame him as he inherits the state of affairs. Yet he as chief minister is accountable to the state and one wonders how he is going to develop the state when he literally has nothing at hand.
On the other hand, we can still see the complaints and disappointments from the ruling NPF over the distribution of portfolios. Some legislators appointed as chairmen of various boards with Cabinet status do not have their offices as yet due to “jumbo size ministry.” Even some former ministers are still occupying ministerial bungalows which have already been allotted to new parliamentary secretary. Some parliamentary secretaries are still using their Boleros allotted by Assembly Secretariat.
Ironically, the initial jubilation that the powerful BJP-led NDA government at the Center will rescue the trouble-torn and cash-starved TR government in the state is fast dwindling. At the same time, after carefully studying the start-off of the Narendra Modi government at the Center, the scene becomes crystal clear that no bounty is likely to come hastily to the ever fragile TR government in Nagaland.
However, the recent merger of three NCP MLAs with the BJP in Nagaland has given some breather in the minds of the general publics for the fact that the Center is currently ruled by the BJP-led NDA. This masterstroke by the three NCP MLAs smacked other political detractors in the state as the move came at a time when the Center is ruled by the BJP-led NDA. However, it is still doubtful that the Center will come forward to lend their ears to the financial quagmire of the NPF-led DAN government.
Nagaland is a small state that depends for everything on the Center. The only way to convince the Central leadership is Zeliang has to start exercising frugality in his government and show some positive result on the ground. He also should ponder over his “jumbo size ministry” which simply defeats his point of argument seeking any kind of financial grant from the Center. He should exercise some kind of visible curtail of his jumbo size ministry, though they may be hard exercise. Then only will the Central government start contemplating to work out a grant for the state.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/nagaland-tr-zeliang-should-show-something-on-the-ground/

Nagaland : Official Notification of 3 NCP MLAs’ merger expected by Monday

KOHIMA, June 22 (NEPS): “An Official Notification” of the 3 Nagaland NCP MLAs’ merger with the BJP in Nagaland is expected by Monday and the Nagaland Assembly Office has already received the

KOHIMA, June 22 (NEPS): “An Official Notification” of the 3 Nagaland NCP MLAs’ merger with the BJP in Nagaland is expected by Monday and the Nagaland Assembly Office has already received the additional documents from the three and also merger acceptance letter from the BJP National Party.
Talking to NEPS over phone from Guwahati, Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Chotisuh Sazo, who is reaching State capital tomorrow, confirmed that his office had received additional documents from the 3 MLAs, Imtilemba Sangtam, Dr TM Lotha and Mmhonlumo Kikon and also a letter from National BJP Office of accepting the three MLAs’ merger with their party (BJP) in Nagaland.
Sazo hinted that he would examine the documents tomorrow. “Hopefully official notification of their merger with the BJP will be issued after I examine the documents,” he stated.
It may be mentioned that 3 NCP MLAs, Imtilemba Sangtam, Dr TM Lotha and Mmhonlumo Kikon, along with their supporters formally merged with the BJP on June 16. NCP MLA Khumo refused to join the merge. But the Speaker, however, explained that he had been examining their documents by consulting constitutional experts before issuing official acceptance from his office, besides he sought certain information from the 3 MLAs to furnish whether there was any resolution of the NCP National Political Party deciding to merge their party with the BJP or any authorization to the State Unit of NCP to take any decision in this regard,” the Speaker pointed out. “At the same time, whether there was any resolution of the BJP National Political Party accepting the merger of the NCP with BJP.”
Dr TM Lotha, MLA and Parliamentary Secretary, said the documents submitted to Speaker’s Office on June 16, 2014 for formal merger of 3 NCP MLAs with their supporters with BJP was done by fulfilling all the laid down rules of the 10th Schedule of the Anti-Defection Law.
“Yet the Speaker has sought more documents, we have already submitted to his office,” a State BJP party functionary said and further hoped that, “the Speaker will issue official notification for the merger as we have fulfilled all the laid down rules of the 10th Schedule of the Anti-Defection Law.”

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/nagaland-official-notification-of-3-ncp-mlas-merger-expected-by-monday/

Impact of social media while our elections & politics groping in the dark

By Oken Jeet Sandham Literally, every person on the street has Facebook Account. In other countries and even in major Indian cities, whether cobbler or rickshaw puller or barber or

By Oken Jeet Sandham
Literally, every person on the street has Facebook Account. In other countries and even in major Indian cities, whether cobbler or rickshaw puller or barber or vegetable vender, they mostly have social media accounts, particularly Facebook. Almost every restaurant – whether small or big – has free Internet facilities through Wi-Fi. Everyone coming to the restaurants is normally seen enjoying free Internet facilities through the Wi-Fi services, while enjoying various cuisines. The whole world is virtually at their fingertips.
Over 80% of the world leaders now have their own social media accounts, particularly Facebook. Starting from mere local politicians to Prime Ministers and Presidents, they all have owned their own social media sites. Many Queens and Kings also have joined social media. Most of them used Facebook extensively to promote their missions and charitable works, while those politicians would do their best to propagate their political and social agendas. Millions of Facebook users will also systematically use the social media sites (Facebook) to promote their commercial ventures. Various professionals will use Facebook to promote their professional programs. To a great extent, their purposes are served.
Since the advent of Facebook, the communities of the world are more connected than ever before. The boundaries have virtually disappeared and the world communities become one family. The people don’t wait any important information of any candidates these days; they can easily get it through their Facebook sites. Besides this, the general publics can directly put their questions in their social media sites and even join debates in it.
We have seen how the last American Presidential elections were fought through various social media sites. Barack Obama and his Republican rivals Senator John McCain and later with Mitt Romney virtually had their presidential campaigns organized in the Facebook and it had largely worked to capture the mood of the voters who were also users of Facebook and other social media sites.
The last American Presidential elections had shown to the world that no one could any longer fight without Facebook and other Social media machines. After the American elections were over, numbers of Facebook and other social media users were seen a quantum jump and it still keeps surging.
Every Prime Minister or President of the world would have their Facebook with millions following them. They virtually pitted against each other for their political and electoral battles. They could systematically advance to many areas. Every activity of any Prime Minister or the main Opposition Leader will be instantly uploaded in their Facebook before it goes to any other online publications, forget about Print Media that will come next day only.
In India, we have now witnessed unprecedented use of Facebook and Twitter, etc. during this time’s upcoming 16th Indian Lok Sabha elections by contending candidates and their political parties. They have been constantly uploading news of election campaigns in their respective social media sites. According to report, the social media, particularly Facebook will play a major role in 2014 elections. It said out of 534 constituencies, 160 were identified as High impact zones, 67 were identified as Medium impact zones while the rest were classified as Low impact zones.
It further disclosed that they were categorized on the basis of internet and Facebook users in that particular constituency. On basis of data collected from past year and equating it with current stats, it concluded that the High impact zones will be the major game changer in 2014 elections.
Nadrendra Modi, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate has millions of Facebook and Twitter followers. His electioneering news is constantly uploaded in his and his BJP’s Facebook and Twitter sites. Congress Star Campaigner Rahul Gandhi also equally uses the services of the Facebook and Twitter for propagating his electioneering campaigns, while Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh too can’t help but depending on social media like Facebook to put his political agendas and developments, etc.
Though he projected himself very simple, Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi Chief Minister and leader of AAP, couldn’t progress without depending on social media. He had to convey his thought, ideas and election campaigns through social media in many cases. In fact, the social media plays integral, both to the candidates and the public.
In India, every political party has their social media sites today. They too have used benefits of the sites to the fullest possible manner to advance their political agendas. Massive political propaganda has been created through Facebook and Twitter by every political party and their leader to project that they are the savior of the country. If closely monitored, it appears that they are unlikely to play politics without the services of Facebook and Twitter. What a revolution indeed.
Even in the Region, State Units of various National Political Parties like the BJP, Congress, etc. have opened their own social media sites and played their own games to only strengthen their propaganda machine.
Every media house does have their own various social media sites, so do all the media persons. In fact, some of the national media houses constantly upload every new development in their news portals as well as their Facebook and Twitter. These have happened, over and above their print editions. Even the electronic media like TV Channels, in spite of their live telecast of each and every development, do constantly upload their news in their Facebook and Twitter.
In Nagaland too, number of social media users are seen increasing leaps and bound. There are heated debates taking place on various issues facing them in their social media sites. Facebook has given space for each and every person to share their thoughts, ideas and plights, etc.
Hundreds of users throw their questions in the Facebook daily or hourly with regard to the current Lok Sabha elections as well as Naga political issue. It is interesting to note that while AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi was addressing a mammoth election rally at Kohima Local Ground on March 27, news of his address was being uploaded in Facebook and Twitter simultaneously. How advance the Social Media of today is? In fact, immediate political debates generated when he raised the controversial points with regard to Naga political issue where he said, “I will not give any promise as your Chief Minister who said he would bring solution to the Naga issue within three months if he was voted to power.”
Before NPF formally lodged its complaint, the actual debates were over within few hours as soon as it was uploaded in the Facebook and Twitter. It went viral.
It is regretted that NPF and NPCC have just opened their Facebook accounts with hardly any following them. Hardly election campaign news is seen uploading in their sites. They should engage their media personnel to work for their social media sites. Nagaland BJP Unit has, however, been maintaining their Facebook site well.
NPF candidate Neiphiu Rio, who is also DAN consensus candidate, has nearly 500 followers, while Congress Candidate KV Pusa’s seemed to have just been opened recently with less than 100 followers. Some of their party functionaries, of course, have their social media accounts opened. This development clearly shows that they are yet to know the value of social media.
Looking at the present scenario, Nagaland political activities are yet to catch up the social media importance. They are still in the dark while others are busy uploading their activities, yet they do not know what is happening in Facebook with their stories. Here is a wakeup call for our political leaders to join the Facebook or else they will be left out.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/04/impact-of-social-media-while-our-elections-politics-groping-in-the-dark/