Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 8
In a swift – and no-nonsense – retort, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Saturday suspended all of its eight ‘rogue legislators’ who had ‘defied’ party directives, and principles, to join the TR Zeliang’s government. The AICC’s suspension order was dispatched barely 24 hours after the rogue Congress legislators had officially relinquished their status as opposition in exchange for various seats of power as cabinet minister, parliamentary secretaries and advisor with cabinet status. Show cause notices have also been served tp these 8 Congress legislators by the AICC.
The president of NPCC, K Therie, on Saturday evening confirmed that all of the Congress legislators have been placed under suspension. They have been asked to explain, within the next seven days, why the party high command should not sanction any disciplinary actions for joining the DAN government, and thereby, sailing together with sworn-enemies BJP.
A suspension order, stating the same, which was issued in the name of V Narayanasamy, AICC in-charge of northeastern states was also made available to the press.
Therie told Eastern Mirror that any further course of action would be decided only after the seven days time accorded to the rogue legislators to argue their case.
Currently, the Nagaland government is without any legislators in the opposition bench following the latest political twist that saw arch-rivals Congress and BJP coming together to form an alliance with the NPF.
While the BJP and the NPF rides the same boat at the Center as well, the Congress in Nagaland has been warming the opposition bench for the past decade.
Meanwhile, the AICC notice signed by V.Narayanasamy who is the party’s in-charge of North Eastern States, said, “You are aware that there was clear direction given by the Honourable Congress President that the Congress MLAs should not join the Shri T.R. Zeliang Government if BJP is also partner in the Government. Few days back one BJP MLA was sworn in as minister in the Nagaland NPF Government”.
The show cause notice further said President, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee K. Therie also gave press conference on May 6 stated that “since BJP is part of NPF Government in Nagaland the Congress will not join the Government”
“Further, he (K Therie) also sent written communication on May 8 to Shri Tokheljo Yepthomi, CLP Leader that our Congress MLAs, as per directions of the Hon’ble Congress President, should not join the NPF Government,” it pointed out.
“You have violated the directions and joined the NPF Government headed by Shri T.R. Zeliang as Cabinet Minister/Advisor to the Chief Minister/ and Parliamentary Secretary in the Government.
Therefore, you are called upon to explain within seven days, why action should not be initiated against you for violating the party directions and joined the NPF Government headed by Shri T.R. Zeliang along with BJP MLA in the ministry. You are suspended from the Congress party forthwith,” the AICC note added.
