Principal Correspondent
Kohima, January 5
Consequent upon the dissidence factor coming to the limelight with majority of the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislators trying for change of guard in the government, party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has suspended seven elected members from the primary and active membership of the party while Chief Minister TR Zeliang has terminated six parliamentary secretaries from their posts. NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie has signed suspension orders against ministers G. Kaito Aye, the proposed leader of NPF Legislature Party by the dissident group, along with Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, parliamentary secretaries Zhaleo Rio, Pukhayi, Pohwang Konyak, Shetoyi and Tivihoto Ayemi.
In an order issued late Monday night, Dr. Shürhozelie said the members of the Nagaland Assembly named above are not the members of the NPF which is the dominant partner of the DAN-III government currently in saddle in the State.
Claiming that the NPF has the unique distinction of being in government for the third time in the State since 2003, he said this feat was possible because of the commitment and labour of all those who subscribed to the values, ideals and the constitution of the NPF and tirelessly worked for it.
He maintained that after election of then Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to the Lok Sabha in May, 2014 polls, current Chief Minister TR Zeliang was unanimously chosen to lead the State and all members of the party, as per the provisions of the constitution of the NPF, ought to repose utmost trust on him for the continued success of the party and the government.
He said the above members of the NLA have by their actions of associating themselves with detractors and deviators of the party’s goals and objectives of providing good and stable governance to the people of Nagaland, committed serious breach of discipline of the NPF as enshrined in the constitution of the party.
He said the seven members have been sabotaging the leadership of TR Zeliang in whom the NPF party has placed utmost confidence and trust to lead the government in the State and also have been conspiring to overawe and overthrow the legitimate government in the State.
They have violated various provisions of the constitution of NPF and thereby brought disrepute to the party and the government in the public eye as evidenced from the new report in this regard in a section of local dailies on January 5, 2015, he said.
The NPF president, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under NPF Article V Rule 9 (read with provisions in Article XIV) suspended the above mentioned members of NPF who are also members of the Nagaland Assembly from the primary and active membership of the NPF with immediate effect until further orders.
He also notified that they will have no participatory or voting rights in all political/legislature party forums, except voting rights on the floor of the Assembly in accordance with party whip.
Reacting on similar lines, Chief Minister TR Zeliang in exercise of the powers under Rule 5 of the Rules of Executive Business of the Government of Nagaland (read with other relevant provisions) has terminated six parliamentary secretaries, including an Independent legislator, and two ministers from their posts in the government of Nagaland with immediate effect.
The termination notification signed by the Chief Minister did not contain any reasons. The two ministers are Industries and Commerce minister G Kaito Aye and Roads & Bridges minister Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu.
The six terminated parliamentary secretaries are Pohwang Konyak (NPF) – Fire & emergency Services, Relief & Rehabilitation, Pukhayi (NPF) – Sericulture & Cooperation, Shetoyi (NPF) – Fisheries, Zhalheo Rio (NPF) – Urban Development, N. Thomas Ngullie (Independent) – Women Development & Border Affairs and Tovihoto Ayemi (NPF) – Science & Technology, Information Technology & Communication, Technical Education and Taxation.
