NPF terms NPF legislators meet ‘unconstitutional’

Principal Correspondent Kohima, January 6 The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has termed January 5 meeting of the NPF legislators party in Dimapur declaring G Kaito Aye as the new leader and Imkong L. IMchen as the party spokesman as “unconstitutional”. A statement issued by NPF secretary general KG Kenye, who is also the political advisor to the Chief Minister TR Zeliang, here this evening said “as per procedure in a Parliamentary democracy, the leader of the Legislature Party alone can convene a meeting of the Legislature Party and the leader of the NPFLP currently is TR Zeliang, who by virtue of being such leader, is also the Chief Minster”. “A parallel meeting of the legislature party or the political party can take place only when a split is caused in the party. While a split can every well be cause, any MLA who becomes part of the split away group will be squarely disqualified under the Tenth Schedule for voluntarily giving up the membership of the Party since split is no more recognized in the Tenth Schedule,” he said. All those MLAs on production of their attendance sheet in public domain, will attract disqualification, Kenye maintained. He went on to state that as the parallel meeting of the legislature party without the knowledge and approval of the party president Dr. Shürhozelie and the Legislature Party Leader TR Zeliang is unconstitutional and ultra vires, both the MPs who patronized such an illegal and illegitimate meeting also come under the disciplinary scanner of the party and may become liable for disqualification from the respective houses of Parliament for the said reason. The apex court has ruled in several cases that voluntarily giving up membership does not mean formal resignation only but inferences like anti-party activities, he said. Kenye further said a question has now arisen whether a member, G. Kaito Aye, who has been suspended from the NPF for anti-party activity and whose membership of the Assembly has itself come into question, can stake claim to form a rebellious government. “Can those who are suspended from the NPF party and face similar fate, also become Ministers?” he asked. Kenye maintained that the Governor, however, will follow constitutional precedents, conventions and law laid down by the apex court in Bommal’s case for dealing with the situation. Kenye also maintained that on the recommendations of the Chief Minister, the Governor has dropped Kaito and Azo from the Council of Ministers while CM also relieved six MLAs from functioning as parliamentary secretaries.

Seven legislators issued show cause notice again

The ruling NPF has issued show cause notice against seven of its legislators, including two ministers and five parliamentary secretaries, on the present imbroglio. The notice signed by NPF secretary general KG Kenye here today maintained that “in continuation of the NPF president’s order (published on January 6) suspending the seven of them from the primary and active membership of the NPF, I am pleased to issue this show cause notice to you to reply to the suspension order in detailed terms, explaining as to why the order of suspension should not have been issued and why the same should not be confirmed to be operative until further orders for the charges contained in the Preamble to the said order”. The notice also asked the seven NPF legislators, including ministers G Kaito Aye, Kuzholuzo Nienu and parliamentary secretaries Zhaleo Rio, Phukayi, Shetoyi, Pohwang and Tovihoto to reply within 15 days to the secretary general for consideration. The notice also warned them that failing to do so would confirm their suspension from the party.