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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.
In fact, Jamir keeps visiting his home state. On December 16, 2015, he was felicitated and also awarded with the appellation ‘Quas-quicentennial Man’ by the “people of Mokokchung” at a civic function. Among others Alemtemshi Jamir, a former bureaucrat under Jamir, attended the occasion.
These are largely viewed as winds of change in the air.
Notably, Jamir despite being a Congressman has managed to keep a harmonious working relation with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While several Governors appointed during Congress-led UPA regime were given the boot since May 2014 when Modi took over, Chubatoshi Jamir has survived.
It is also worth mentioning here that during his stint as Governor of Maharashtra, Jamir also held charge as Gujarat Governor for a brief period from July to November 2009. Jamir’s admirers would agree that it goes to the tribute of Jamir’s pragmatic politics that as in-charge of gubernatorial post, Jamir hardly had any major conflict with his then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
