Merged NCP MLAs accepted as BJP

Principal Correspondent Kohima, February 3 Barely a day ahead of the special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), the Speaker Chotisuh Sazo has restored the membership of the three merged NCP MLAs Imtilemba Sangtam, Dr TM Lotha and Mmhonlumo Kikon in the Assembly. A back dated order (3/1/15) signed by Sazo and made available to the media late tonight said “in pursuance of the judgement and order dated 12-11-14 passed by the Division bench of the Guwahati High Court in case NO/WA/297/2014, setting aside this office (NLA) order NO.LEG/01/2014 dated 25th August 2014, I, Shri Chotisuh Sazo, Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly hereby restore the membership of the following MLAs (Imtilemba Sangtam, Dr TM Lotha and Mmhonlumo Kikon) to the NLA with effect from 12-11-2014 as BJP Legislature Party till such tie the Supreme Court gives final verdict”. Mention may be made here that the three had been disqualified from the Assembly for declaring merger with BJP leaving behind one of their colleague in the NCP on June 16, 2014 while they managed to get stay order against the ruling of Speaker and subsequently quashed it in the Principal Bench of GHC on November 13. However, the NCP filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which was admitted on January 9 last but hearing on the matter is yet to be conducted.