Dimapur, Mar. 5 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has taken umbrage to news reports in the electronic and the print media about Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s refusal to step down.
The NPF party issued a press release on Mon. stating ‘news headlines appearing in print and electronic media erroneously or maliciously portraying Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang as desperately clinging on to the chair and refusing to resign has projected him in a very poor light.’
The question of the chief minister resigning, according to the NPF, does not arise because efforts were on to stitch the requisite numbers to form the government. The governor of Nagaland has allocated 48 hours for it, it stated.
“Technically, before a new chief minister is sworn in the incumbent chief minister can continue as the caretaker. Incorrect and malicious news reporting should be avoided at all cost,” the NPF's statement read.
On strict count, the present government’s tenure should come to an end on Mar. 5. Exactly five years ago, the current dispensation–though with Neipihu Rio as chief minister–was sworn in.
According to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, a new government should be installed before the end of the old tenure.
