As Muivah was celebrated by tens of thousands during his emotional return to Manipur, a faction inside the Naga Army attempted to elevate a rival commander—an act the supremo called a “blatant violation” of the group’s founding charter.
BY PC Bureau
November 4, 2025: In a dramatic escalation of what insiders describe as a deepening power struggle within the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM), the group’s aging supremo Thuingaleng Muivah has reportedly moved to quash an unauthorized promotion within the Naga Army’s ranks.
The 91-year-old leader—fresh from an emotional return to his Manipur roots after more than six decades—convened an emergency meeting of top brass to address what he termed a “blatant violation” of the outfit’s constitution, or Yezhabo. The episode underscores widening fissures in the NSCN-IM’s leadership even as the group grapples with stalled peace talks with the Indian government.
The Controversial Promotion: A Challenge to Muivah’s Authority
According to senior sources within the NSCN-IM’s Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN), the flashpoint emerged on October 29, 2025, when an order surfaced promoting Maj. Gen. Holeishang Shadang to the rank of Lt. General—and designating him successor to Longvibu (Commander-in-Chief) Anthony Ningkhan Shimray.
The order, issued without Muivah’s approval, was branded by the supremo as an “attempt to undermine his leadership.” Shimray, a longtime confidant and Muivah’s “right-hand man,” has been central to the group’s diplomatic and operational activities since the 1980s. His elevation to Longvibu in 2017 followed his release from Indian custody, where he was detained on arms procurement charges.
Shimray’s loyalty to Muivah is considered absolute, making the push to sideline him a direct affront to the supremo’s inner circle.
The timing was provocative. The order emerged precisely as Muivah was being feted at Senapati District Headquarters, Manipur, where 30,000 to 40,000 Nagas gathered to honor his “historic tour.” Organized by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Naga People’s Organization (NPO), the event featured traditional rituals, flag displays, and a Genna observance in his name.
Too frail to speak, Muivah had his message read by deputy Ato Kilonser V.S. Atem, reaffirming the NSCN-IM’s non-negotiable demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution under the 2015 Framework Agreement.
The Senapati ceremony marked the crescendo of Muivah’s week-long homecoming tour to his native Somdal village in Ukhrul district—his first visit since leaving in 1964 to join the Naga National Council (NNC).
Sources say the promotion order, leaked via social media and internal channels, was designed to exploit Muivah’s absence from Dimapur to test his control over the military wing.
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Emergency Summit: Muivah’s Call to “Rectify the Violation”
By October 31, Muivah had returned to Dimapur and convened an urgent Collective Leadership meeting, attended by Yaruiwo (Chairman) Q. Tuccu, Vice-President Tongmeth Wangnao, and V.S. Atem.
In “no uncertain terms,” he ordered the reversal of the promotion, warning that failure to do so would “make things worse” for the organization’s unity. Muivah reportedly described the move as a “cross violation” of the Yezhabo, which enshrines collective decision-making under his authority.
The NSCN-IM—founded in 1980 by Muivah, Isak Chishi Swu, and S.S. Khaplang—has survived multiple schisms. Yet this latest episode is seen as one of its most serious internal ruptures in years.
In April 2024, 14 senior officers rebelled against Shimray, accusing him of compromising the movement’s revolutionary ideals and colluding with Indian agencies. Loyalists struck back, demanding punitive action against the “mutineers.” The unrest, though contained, simmered beneath the surface.
By early 2025, social media allegations of corruption and arms dealings involving Shimray further deepened mistrust within the ranks.
Analysts link these tensions to Muivah’s advancing age and the absence of a clear succession plan. “At 91, Muivah’s health is a wildcard,” noted The Week, cautioning that younger leaders may lack his charisma to hold fractious factions together.
A November 2024 controversy over a rogue statement threatening a “return to arms”—allegedly issued by a relative of Muivah in China—fueled speculation of disunity within the collective leadership.
In an October 30 interview, Shimray sought to steady nerves, calling the Naga cause a “holy war sustained by community spirit rather than arms”—a subtle acknowledgment of the internal tug-of-war between militants and diplomats.
Muivah’s Enduring Grip: A Symbol of Naga Resilience
Despite the intrigue, Muivah’s homecoming has reaffirmed his towering stature. The Senapati reception—billed as the “biggest ever”—saw leaders of 21 Naga tribes, including Poumai, Mao, and Maram, converge in celebration. Youth groups such as ANSAM hailed him as the “embodiment of the Naga political struggle.”
“His very breath commands devotion,” said one attendee, reflecting the near-mythic reverence for the Tangkhul leader who rose from an NNC foot soldier in 1965 to the movement’s guiding force.
During his address, Muivah reiterated core demands for sovereignty, a flag, and the Yezhabo, accusing India of “eroding the political will” behind the 2015 Framework Agreement.
Yet even as the crowds cheered, dissent brewed beyond the spotlight. The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) renewed calls for Muivah to apologize for past “atrocities,” while peace talks—stalled since the 1997 ceasefire—remain gridlocked.
As the NSCN-IM navigates this storm of ambition and uncertainty, the promotion saga is more than an internal spat—it’s a symptom of deeper anxieties over legacy, legitimacy, and the future of Nagalim.
For now, Thuingaleng Muivah’s shadow still looms large over the movement he built—and the peace that remains just out of reach.
