Of the 10 chief ministers Nagaland has had since attaining statehood in 1963, the incumbent TR Zeliang has turned out to be the most astute and clever in defending his position. Because of never-ending tussles for leadership no chief minister in the state felt secure even if he enjoyed a majority. In May 1990, as the opposition Naga People&’s Council leader, KL Chishi masterminded the downfall of SC Jamir&’s government and, in turn, was outsmarted within 29 days. Earlier, in July 1988 Chishi pulled down Hokishe Sema&’s government by engineering defections by 13 Congress(I) members while the chief minister was away in Japan. The JB Jasokie-led government lasted just 11 days. Jamir enjoyed the distinction of being the chief minister four times and he served for 3,264 days. Even during Neiphiu Rio&’s regional party regime (2003-2014) – considered stable – rumblings were heard and at one point the Centre had to take over for a brief period.

The present Naga People&’s Front- led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland headed by Zeliang assumed office in June last year after Rio quit while serving his third term to contest the 2014 parliamentary election. But Zeliang&’s government started wobbling within six months when 11 of his ministers quit expressing lack of confidence in his leadership. The party president Shurhozelie complicated the matter by suspending seven of them. Zeliang was left with no alternative but to seek a trial of strength on the floor of the assembly. Luckily for him the eight-member opposition Congress voted for him. And, as was to be expected, most of them were either given ministerial posts or accommodated as chairmen of government organisations.

By accepting them Zeliang made a mockery of BJP leaders’ assertion that at no point of time would their party share power with the Congress. The Zeliang ministry has four BJP members. Now with the formal merger of the eight Congress MLAs with the NPF Zeliang has succeeded in running a government without opposition. Surprisingly, among them are Jamir&’s brother and son. One can say they have shown considerable maturity because given ground realities the Congress has little chance of improving its electoral prospects in the near future.

Though strongly entrenched Zeliang cannot say his position is no longer vulnerable. The BJP has the history of ruling Arunachal Pradesh without even having to go to the hustings. With the help of once longest-serving Congress chief minister Gegong Apang the party overnight reduced Mukut Mithi&’s Congress government to a minority. And there are rumours that the BJP is trying to set up its own government in Nagaland. Nothing is impossible when political ethics count for little.