NPF huddles after legislators demand president’s removal

Dimapur, July 20 (EMN): The Naga People’s Front today conducted an emergency meeting of its Central Executive Council to take stock of the series of political developments that have taken place much to the distress of the party and the party organisation losing its grip with majority of its MLAs rebelling against the party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezistsü which resulted in his ouster from the chair of the Chief Minister on Thursday with fresh demands for his removal from the party president’s chair. In a series of resolutions made during the meeting the CEC resolved to reaffirm the that MLA Kiyanelie Peseyie is still the party’s Chief Whip in the Assembly. It stated that the meeting decided to, “Reaffirm recognition of Shri. Kiyanilie Peseyie as the Party Chief Whip in Nagaland Legislative Assembly as appointed by Party President Dr Shürhozelie Liezistsü on November 14, 2014 and notified by the Assembly Secretariat on November 15, 2014. Any other person claiming to be the Whip of the NPF party in the Assembly is self-styled, illegal and lacks validity since Party Whip is elected/ appointed by the political party and not by the legislators.” The meeting also condemned the “ unconstitutional, arbitrary and illogical action of the Governor in dismissing the Dr Shürhozelie -led Government and acting like the leader of the NPF dissident legislators. Moreover, he has converted the hallowed grounds of Raj Bhawan into the headquarter of the BJP.” In the backdrop of the recent demand by the majority of MLAs asking for the president’s resignation the CEC meeting reminded that the party President is appointed for a specific period through voting in a General Convention of the party and not by the legislators and any change can be affected only in the same platform. The meeting also played the religion card in one of its resolutions that appealed to all the churches in the Naga-inhabited areas to be aware of “elements” trying their best to “thrust the Trishul into the heartland of Christ, and to be extra vigilant in the coming days considering that some of our leaders are being manipulated and enticed by these alien elements with seats of power.” In an attack directed to the BJP it “Urged all national political parties to stop forthwith their unholy tendency to destabilise regional political party Governments in the region, and remind the national parties that at present the Naga People’s Front is the torch bearer of Naga identity as well as Indian nationalism in Naga areas of the country.” It also decided to support the DAC’s decision to expel TR Zeliang from the party for a period of six years. The CEC of the NPF party also expressed “profound distress and sorrow” to the flood victims and affected families in the foothills of the State.