
Along Longkumer
Morung Express News
In a major development for the ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), its Secretary General Chubatemjen Ao has reportedly resigned from his post putting in his official papers to the party’s president ahead of the next NPF general convention to be held at Kohima on November 18. Highly reliable sources within the NPF confirmed that the secretary general personally wrote to the NPF president, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, on November 1 making clear his decision to vacate the office of the secretary general. A copy of the resignation letter was also forwarded to the chairman of the NPF Election Board. Former minister and presently Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, Khekiho Zhimomi is reported to be heading the 11-member Election Board constituted on November 4 by the party president.
When contacted, Zhimomi did not mention about the resignation of Chubatemjen but disclosed that Dr Shurhozelie will continue as the party president. While Dr Shurhozelie will be the only consensus candidate for the post of president, it is now all but certain that the NPF will have a new secretary general. Zhimomi indicated that a “consensus candidate” has already been shortlisted to take over from party veteran Chubatemjen. Party sources informed that the final list of the shortlisted ‘consensus candidates’ will be forwarded to the Central Executive Committee tomorrow for taking a final decision. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has reportedly endorsed the continuation of Dr Shurhozelie as president in what is seen as an effort to ensure continuity even as the party looks to the future.
While it is not clear what could have prompted Chubatemjen to quit his post, reliable sources disclosed that the senior party leader had cited “more than one reason” for taking such a major decision. It was reported that the secretary general had raised several pertinent issues confronting the NPF, but which were “not taken up seriously”. According to sources, one of the major points raised by Chubatemjen during a post-election Central Executive Committee meeting earlier in April, was on the question of how to ensure that the government including the MLAs remain accountable to the party.
The outgoing secretary general was reportedly of the view that it is the party which runs the government through their elected representatives. Wanting the NPF to be modeled on the lines of ‘Democratic Centralism’ as practiced by the Left parties, it was reported that Chubatemjen had even made suggestions that the ministers/parliamentary secretaries address the NPF Central leaders at least twice a month, meaning that the party was kept informed of the activities of at least two departments in a month. Obviously this did not elicit much support or response from the party itself nor did it go down very well with those in the government.
During the same meeting, Chubatemjen reportedly expressed concern over the “the lack of discipline within the party” and that many in the party were “uncommitted and unclear” in their “political principles and visions” whereby “some were joining or remaining in the party only for personal ambitions or for some gainful privileges without having any vision for the people”. The secretary general also reportedly suggested that the terms and conditions for enrolment in the party needed review and to make it more stringent.
A family source close to the NPF Secretary General also disclosed that the latter was especially hurt when he was accused by “certain sections” within the NPF for not helping the party candidate in 29 Jangpetkong A/C—the seat which was won by former Congress Legislator Party Leader I. Imkong during the 2008 election. It was further disclosed that having served for a long time in a senior and important position within the NPF and before that the NPC, the Secretary General was ‘unhappy’ with certain decisions including bypassing him for a Rajya Sabha berth. Mr Chubatemjen is reported to have “reiterated” within the party forum that as a senior party leader he had “a rightful claim” to be the party nominee to the Rajya Sabha, which was denied to him. To recall, it may be mentioned that Chubatemjen was the then Secretary General of the NPC when the regional party was later renamed into the present NPF in the year 2002 just ahead of the Assembly Elections in 2003, which saw the defeat of the SC Jamir led Congress government.
Meanwhile, notwithstanding the “differences” within the party, sources disclosed that the outgoing Secretary General also wanted to pass on the baton to other “suitable” persons who could address the “contemporary expectations and requirements” and that he was leaving without any resentment against anybody. Party sources informed that the outgoing Secretary General will be attending the party convention and that he will take a final bow from the political center stage on November 18 at Kohima.
(The writer is former Editor of The Morung Express and presently the Chief of Bureau)