The Chief Ministers of Manipur and Nagaland, Okram Ibobi Singh and Neiphiu Rio, seem to have resigned themselves to the seemingly inevitable political developments after the declaration of the Lok Sabha election results on May 16. Mr. Rio is certain to get elected in the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland and there is a succession war among some of his Ministers.
In the 60-member House, his Naga People’s Front has 38 MLAs. It was earlier Nagaland People’s Front. But it was changed to Naga People’s Front to enable it to contest the 2012 Manipur Assembly elections.
It had won 4 seats. Reports say that two Cabinet Ministers, Noke Wangno and T.R. Zeliang, are in the race to take over Chief Ministership from Mr. Rio and that Mr. Zeliang enjoys majority support within the NPF. In a statement, Mr. Rio said he may have to go as Lok Sabha MP to take up for more responsibilities for the Nagaland people and the north-east.
BJP is a partner of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland of which NPF is the leading party. It is made out that if the BJP forms the next government at the Centre, Mr. Rio will get a Ministerial berth.
Mr. Ibobi is the first and only Chief Minister in Manipur who could complete a five-year term. Now he is in his third innings. At one stage, Nipamachana Wahengbam of the Manipur State Congress Party enjoyed the support of 59 MLAs with Rishang Keishing alone sitting in the Opposition bench. Still, he could not complete his term as the MLAs crossed the floor.
In the last Assembly elections, the ruling Congress bagged 42 seats despite bans imposed by several rebel groups. Ahead of the Lok sabha polls, the MSCP, which has 5 MLAs, was merged with the Congress.
Though the Congress might have made some electoral gains, the merger reportedly took place with some strings attached to it.
When Mr. Ibobi formed the Ministry he had reportedly assured some Ministerial aspirants and other pressure groups that some of the present Ministers would be replaced in two-and-a-half years.
The deadline expires shortly. There is considerable pressure to drop the present Ministers and induct new ones.
A political change in Nagaland and Manipur after the declaration of the LS results is bound to happen.
