Principal Correspondent
Kohima, January 9
Apparently perturbed over the ongoing political standoff within the ruling NPF, which has brought the functioning of the State government to a grinding halt for last one week, Chief Minister TR Zeliang along with NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie and secretary general KG Kenye has requested Governor PB Acharya to summon a special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly so that he may move a motion of confidence. CMO sources said the trio met the Governor at Raj Bhavan wherein the Chief Minister said a situation has arisen creating a great deal of confusion by the dissidents group of the NPF legislators by urging the Chief Minister to step down without any trial of strength in the Legislative Assembly.
“Such a situation has confused the people of Nagaland, besides affecting the normal functioning of the government,” the Chief Minister said.
“The present government headed by me as the Chief Minister is a coalition government, and the opinion of the constituent partners on who should lead the coalition is required. I am confident that I enjoy the support of the majority in the House. In order to settle claims in the appropriate democratic forum I, therefore, wish a vote of confidence on my government in the Legislative Assembly. Towards this end, I shall be grateful if necessary steps are taken to summon a special session of the Assembly,” Zeliang stated.
The Chief Minister also said it was unconstitutional and a total mockery of democracy on the part of dissident group to appoint another leader when there is an incumbent chief minister duly elected by the DAN Legislature Party and duly sworn in by the Governor in accordance with Constitution.
Equally illegal is the so-called election of chief whip of the NPF Legislature Party by the dissidents group, when the only authority to appoint the chief whip is the party president, and no one else, he pointed out. Such tactics of dissident members is only a desperate attempt to usurp power through undemocratic procedure and hijack democratic norms for their own selfish interest, Zeliang asserted
The Chief Minister further said people are made to suffer because of these legislators, who are all out to topple the duly elected government without any regard for the welfare of people. Therefore, to let the truth prevail and clear all confusions from the minds of the people, he had decided to seek vote of confidence on the floor of the House, he added.
However, sources said the Governor is yet to respond to the request of the Chief Minister. At the same time, the Governor is yet to accept the claim of dissident leader G Kaito Aye to allow him to form the next government.
Raj Bhavan sources said the Governor is holding series of discussions with constitutional experts and also dwelt on details about the issue with State’s Advocate General KN Balgopal here today. Sources said if he accepts the Chief Minister’s request, the Governor can direct the Assembly Secretariat to summon the special session. However, the Assembly Secretariat is yet to receive any such directive from Raj Bhavan till the time of filing this report, sources said.
Further, sources also said Assembly Speaker Choisuh Sazo called on the Governor today and discussed about the present political scenario in the State, expressing concern over the division within the NPF party which would be detrimental to the State if it continued unresolved.
Meanwhile, sources also revealed that a three-member team from the dissident camp led by newly elected NPF Legislature Party leader G. Kaito Aye along with MPs Neiphiu Rio and Khekiho Zhimomi left for Delhi today to meet the national leadership of BJP. They would be discussing detail about the formation of the next government under Kaito’s leadership, sources added.
Notably, despite the open rebellion, sources in CMO said the Chief Minister is yet to accept the resignation tendered by two ministers, four parliamentary secretaries and five MLAs submitted to him yesterday.
The NPF Legislature Party is issuing this press release in order to reject the proposal of the NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie, who had informed the NPF organization in today’s NPF Central Office Bearers meeting at the NPF Central office at Kohima, at 11 AM, that the T.R. Zeliang’s camp has strategized with the Congress Legislatures to take the support of the Congress MLAs to try and garner a majority in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. That is why the TR Zeliang Camp has called for a special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly to prove his majority.
We reject this proposal as we are very much part of the NDA and we have agreed to form a stable government that will have a positive and constructive partnership with the Central Government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi in the greater interest of the people of Nagaland and the country.
