The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have focussed its attention on peace and development ahead of assembly elections in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya. The party currently governs Tripura while it is an ally of the ruling parties in the other two states.
In Nagaland, the state with the longest history of insurgency, the BJP’s main challenge is to win back people’s trust. Just a year after its landslide victory in 2014 general elections, the BJP-led Centre had signed a “historic” Framework Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M), aimed at bringing an end to the decades-long insurgency problem.
The rebel group had then applauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the pact was concluded due to the “statesmanship and steely resolve” shown by him towards finding a final political solution. Most importantly, the civil society and apex tribal body, the Naga Hoho, had reposed trust in the peace process.
Seven years on, there is still no solution in sight due to differences over certain demands. While the NSCN (I-M) is reluctant to compromise on the issues of a separate flag and a constitution, the Government of India seems to be struggling to find a middle path.
Amid this logjam, the BJP, which had earlier this year renewed its alliance with CM Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) to contest the 2023 assembly polls, is hard-selling its peace plank. As part of the move, the Centre has partially withdrawn the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 or AFSPA from Nagaland, Assam and Manipur.
Nagaland was rocked by public protests demanding removal of AFSPA following the death of 13 civilians during anti-insurgency operations last year. AFSPA guarantees a large degree of impunity to security forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations. Legal experts and human rights activists see this as one of the most draconian laws in India after Independence.
In Tripura, the ruling BJP faces a major challenge from the newly floated TIPRA (The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance). Led by Tripura ‘royal’ and former state Congress president Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, the party had last year swept the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls.
This was the first defeat for the BJP since it stormed to power in 2018, ending the around two-decade-long Left rule in the state. Since then, TIPRA Motha’s popularity and support base in tribal pockets seem to have increased significantly. Deb Burman recently announced his party will not take a single penny from big political outfits, and would contest the 2023 assembly elections of its own.
“In the last 70 years, we have got MLAs, ministers and MPs but did not get our rights. Now, I must lead the Tiprasa movement for Greater Tipraland. No matter whether I win or lose,” Deb Burman was quoted as saying by PTI.
The TTAADC area comprises two-thirds of the state’s territory and is the home to the tribal community. The 20 tribal seats in the 60-member state assembly could play a crucial part in the upcoming polls. And the BJP’s track record has been more than satisfactory, something the party’s top brass realised just a few months back and installed Manik Saha as CM replacing Biplab Deb.
In Meghalaya, the BJP currently has two MLAs. To make matters worse, chief minister Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) has decided to go solo in the forthcoming elections, leaving its ally to fend for itself.
Although the BJP is trying to highlight issues related to the “plight of the teachers, vacancies in government departments, discrepancies in implementation of central schemes” among others, it is yet to be seen how much support it can gather in the Christian-majority state.
As a whole, the Centre has focussed on connectivity and development of the region as part of its ‘Act East’ policy. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has recently announced the operationalisation of two international routes connecting five cities in the northeast, which borders Myanmar and Bangladesh among other countries.
The flights connecting Imphal-Aizawl-Imphal and Lilabari-Ziro-Lilabari commenced from October 30 while the services on the Shillong-Lilabari-Shillong route started a day later. Additionally, two new routes — Agartala-Chittagong-Agartala and Imphal-Mandalay-Imphal — will be operationalised. This will expand the scope of air connectivity in the northeastern states from national to the international level, Scindia said.
The Centre has also stressed the expansion of the railway network in the region. President Droupadi Murmu last month virtually flagged off a new service between Nagaland’s Shokhuvi and Mendipathar in Meghalaya via Assam. In August, the train service from Arunachal Pradesh was extended to Nagaland.
In Nagaland, the state with the longest history of insurgency, the BJP’s main challenge is to win back people’s trust. Just a year after its landslide victory in 2014 general elections, the BJP-led Centre had signed a “historic” Framework Agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M), aimed at bringing an end to the decades-long insurgency problem.
The rebel group had then applauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the pact was concluded due to the “statesmanship and steely resolve” shown by him towards finding a final political solution. Most importantly, the civil society and apex tribal body, the Naga Hoho, had reposed trust in the peace process.
Seven years on, there is still no solution in sight due to differences over certain demands. While the NSCN (I-M) is reluctant to compromise on the issues of a separate flag and a constitution, the Government of India seems to be struggling to find a middle path.
Amid this logjam, the BJP, which had earlier this year renewed its alliance with CM Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) to contest the 2023 assembly polls, is hard-selling its peace plank. As part of the move, the Centre has partially withdrawn the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 or AFSPA from Nagaland, Assam and Manipur.
Nagaland was rocked by public protests demanding removal of AFSPA following the death of 13 civilians during anti-insurgency operations last year. AFSPA guarantees a large degree of impunity to security forces engaged in anti-insurgency operations. Legal experts and human rights activists see this as one of the most draconian laws in India after Independence.
In Tripura, the ruling BJP faces a major challenge from the newly floated TIPRA (The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance). Led by Tripura ‘royal’ and former state Congress president Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, the party had last year swept the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls.
This was the first defeat for the BJP since it stormed to power in 2018, ending the around two-decade-long Left rule in the state. Since then, TIPRA Motha’s popularity and support base in tribal pockets seem to have increased significantly. Deb Burman recently announced his party will not take a single penny from big political outfits, and would contest the 2023 assembly elections of its own.
“In the last 70 years, we have got MLAs, ministers and MPs but did not get our rights. Now, I must lead the Tiprasa movement for Greater Tipraland. No matter whether I win or lose,” Deb Burman was quoted as saying by PTI.
The TTAADC area comprises two-thirds of the state’s territory and is the home to the tribal community. The 20 tribal seats in the 60-member state assembly could play a crucial part in the upcoming polls. And the BJP’s track record has been more than satisfactory, something the party’s top brass realised just a few months back and installed Manik Saha as CM replacing Biplab Deb.
In Meghalaya, the BJP currently has two MLAs. To make matters worse, chief minister Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) has decided to go solo in the forthcoming elections, leaving its ally to fend for itself.
Although the BJP is trying to highlight issues related to the “plight of the teachers, vacancies in government departments, discrepancies in implementation of central schemes” among others, it is yet to be seen how much support it can gather in the Christian-majority state.
As a whole, the Centre has focussed on connectivity and development of the region as part of its ‘Act East’ policy. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has recently announced the operationalisation of two international routes connecting five cities in the northeast, which borders Myanmar and Bangladesh among other countries.
The flights connecting Imphal-Aizawl-Imphal and Lilabari-Ziro-Lilabari commenced from October 30 while the services on the Shillong-Lilabari-Shillong route started a day later. Additionally, two new routes — Agartala-Chittagong-Agartala and Imphal-Mandalay-Imphal — will be operationalised. This will expand the scope of air connectivity in the northeastern states from national to the international level, Scindia said.
The Centre has also stressed the expansion of the railway network in the region. President Droupadi Murmu last month virtually flagged off a new service between Nagaland’s Shokhuvi and Mendipathar in Meghalaya via Assam. In August, the train service from Arunachal Pradesh was extended to Nagaland.
(With inputs from agencies)