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Mamata’s ‘token of gesture’ to Muslims is her political gain

Bijoy Menon

A few years ago Mulayam Singh Yadav was known as ‘Maulana Mulayam’ in Uttar Pradesh by BJP for his muslim-centric politics. BJP now terms Mamata as ‘Jihadi Didi ‹ for appeasement of muslims and CPI(M) has accused her of spoiling the atmosphere by communalising Bengal’s politics.

In the first quarter of 2016, West Bengal will go the assembly polls. Although Mamata and her party Trinamool Congress are confident the fruits of power once again, she is leaving no stone unturned to appease muslim community.

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S C Jamir: Old-war-Horse

Swati Deb

S. Chubatoshi Jamir is best known pragmatic Naga politician. The last of surviving signatories of Nagaland statehood – 16 Point Agreement – Jamir has worked in close coordination with Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Congress watchers know both Rajiv Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao did not have initial confidence in him and had preferred Hokise Sema instead. Both by turn of events both Rajiv and Rao vested their trust in Jamir. Not an ideal student of idealism in politics, Jamir has been a regionalist too and was with UDF in 1970s. But veteran Vizol Angami had sacked him on the charge of corruption.

A former Deputy Railway Minister of India, for Jamir now the messy contemporary affairs of a conflict between Zeliang and Neiphiu Rio with the incumbent Chief Minister on a sticky wicket due to his litigation - provides an opportunity. This is a chance for him avenge his defeat at the hands of Neiphiu Rio, his onetime lieutenant. Reports suggest Zeliang and Shurhozelie (NPF president) being “weak players” vis-à-vis Neiphiu Rio are also looking towards a “resourceful Jamir”. For his part though in constitutional post far off in Bhubaneshwar, every Nagaland watcher is aware of Jamir’s first love – that is Nagaland state politics.

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Nagaland Politics

Heading for a Battle Royale

Swati Deb

“Perused the records produced by the acting Registrar of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and the Principal Kohima College…..pertaining to educational qualification of respondent T R Zeliang. The records showed that Taditui Zeliang appeared in BA Exam in 1979, bearing Roll No. 598, but failed in all subjects,” ran the order from magisterial court in Kohima of Tucuno Vamuzo.

The court order also says that Taditui Zeliang - that is the incumbent Nagaland Chief Minister - did not appear the 1980 exam next year. That means educational qualification of BA degree as claimed by T R Zeliang in his election papers in 2013 is questionable and at worse false.

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NOT A TUSSLE  YET MUCH MORE A HASSLE

Sumar Sing Sawian

There is no doubt, according to the surfacing of events, the state government and district council relations in the state are far from happy, if not very sour, though both the leaders, are in the same shelter of the Indian National Congress. The Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, has publicly denied that there exist a “Tussle” going on between himself and the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Pynshngaiñ N. Syiem.

Both these administrative bodies, fall under the purview of the Constitution of India having each respective functional powers. However, the “tussle”, which the chief minister had denied has always been there all along. Many of the bills and legislations of the council are shelved to only gather dust for years together. There is always a “Tussle”, for power especially in lucrative subjects such as Forests and also overlapping of authority in the state and district councils administrations.