4 ministers dropped from cabinet
Kohima, Dec. 13 (EMN): The ongoing political play in Nagaland took a new turn on Wednesday with Chief Minister TR Zeliang making a late evening recommendation to the governor to drop four key players in his ministry: Tokheho Yepthomi (School Education, Parliamentary Affairs), Y Patton (Home), Dr. Neikiesalie Kire (Roads & Bridges) and Neiba Kronu (Environment, Forest and Climate Change).
The social media was abuzz since the morning of Dec. 13 when it was reported that some 20 MLAs had rushed to a private hotel in Kohima. Sources said the MLAs were told that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) president and MLA Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu had called them there for a meeting.
“It was just a handiwork of some people who wanted to create a misunderstanding between the recently reconciled Dr. Shürhozelie and the Chief Minister TR Zeliang,” it was said.
This was echoed by another source from the chief minister’s office, who added that by Wednesday evening, things had ‘sorted out’ and the ‘relationship’ between the two leaders was intact.
While apprehensions about the instability of the government was still doing the rounds, the chief minister is said to have called on Governor PB Acharya at around 6 am the same evening, following which the chief secretary also sought audience with the latter.
Sources from Zeliang’s camp denied of any rebellion among the legislators saying that the incumbent chief minister had the support of 57 out of 59 legislators including Liezietsu. They brushed aside the ‘morning misunderstanding’ as a ‘last attempt’ by beleaguered MP Lok Sabha Neiphiu Rio.
Meanwhile, close on the heels of the total legislature support for Zeliang being claimed, a late order signed by the chief secretary, which was released to the media by the chief minister’s office, however spoke of something else as it notified relieving the four mentioned ministers from Zeliang’s ministry. The four MLAs were most likely dropped in order to accommodate others from Liezietsu’s camp.
As of filing this report speculations ran rife that another minister, the fifth one, will be dropped.
