The matter pertaining to the NPF crisis is of two different issues – one within the NPF Legislature Party and the other by the party outside the Assembly. The NPF legislators and the party functionaries must know the history about how elections have taken place in Nagaland from the First to the Twelfth General Assembly Elections after we attained Statehood.
The NPF party which was then the United Democratic Front secured a majority of 35 elected Members in the Fourth General Assembly Elections held in 1977. In 1982, the then NNDP could secure 24 seats, and in 1987, the NNDP won only 18 seats. In 1989, the so-called NPC won 24 seats which decreased to 17 in the next elections held in 1993. The NPF party did not contest in the 1998 General Assembly Elections and the party was derecognized by the Election Commission of India. In 2003, the NPF managed to win 19 seats and increased its tally to 26 after 7 Congress MLAs joined the NPF. In the Twelfth General Assembly elections in 2013, the NPF secured an overwhelming and absolute majority of 38 under the leadership of Hon’ble MP Lok Sabha and Interim President, NPF Shri Neiphiu Rio.
After the NPF won 19 seats in 2003, Shri Neiphiu Rio asked three of us namely Shri TR Zeliang, Shri Kaito Aye and we to join him and make up the number of NPF. In that arrangement, we met Shri Neiphiu Rio and as he asked us to work together, we agreed to join hands with him to strengthen his position and leadership where Shri CM Chang, the present Hon’ble Advisor, Planning was the witness. Subsequently, 7 of us joined the NPF party and the number of NPF MLAs in the House increased to 26. After that, some of the other parties like JD (U) and Samata Party joined the NPF which then secured majority on its own. After this majority was secured, it was Dr. Shurhozelie, who along with others, planned to dislodge the erstwhile INC MLAs who joined the NPF. Dr Shurhozelie and his group also asked the then Finance Minister Shri Kewekhape Therie to present a White Paper on the grant of ₹ 365 Crores given by the former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee as peace bonus. Accordingly, Shri K. Therie presented the White Paper and a meeting was held in the State Banquet Hall but Dr Shurhozelie and group created an excuse on that issue and expelled Shri K Therie from the NPF party. Again, when elections to both the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament were due, Dr. Shurhozelie hatched another plot and forced Shri W. Wangyuh Konyak and Shri TR Zeliang to go for the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections respectively and they left for Delhi out of compulsion. In 2007, Dr. Shurhozelie again connived with original NPF members and on 4th October 2007, he along with around 9 Members met the then Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio to have me dropped from the Ministry. That is how, and because of which, I resigned from the Cabinet on 27th November, 2007 and left the party.
When the NPF crisis surfaced in January 2015, it was the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri TR Zeliang who asked for the support of the 8 INC MLAs. The meeting was arranged by him and first, four of us namely Shri SI Jamir, Shri TR Zeliang, Shri KG Kenye (present MP Rajya Sabha) and myself met in Forest Colony, Kohima at the residence of the present Hon’ble Speaker. Shri KG Kenye knows what discussions we had in that very first meeting. This was followed by a second meeting later at the same place and the four of us were joined by Dr. Shurhozelie. It was Dr. Shurhozelie himself who expressed his desire to work together and they know what transpired in course of the discussion. Whatever was discussed in those two meetings were reneged by Dr. Shurhozelie and Shri KG Kenye as they went back on their word and forced Shri TR Zeliang to do everything according to their own wishes as usual. On both occasions, the erstwhile Congress MLAs never approached the NPF leaders to join hands and hence the question of being frustrated does not arise in any manner whatsoever.
The Media and Press Bureau (M&PB) of Dr Shurhozelie mentioned about a cabinet meeting held on 31st January, 2017. Indeed, a Cabinet meeting was held at 11 a.m. at the residential office of the Hon’ble Chief Minister where it was decided not to hold elections in those places where there was problem while elections were given the go-ahead in places which did not have any problem or opposition. This was especially in Eastern Naga areas and only after 1 p.m. the meeting concluded. Then around 3 p.m., an emergency Cabinet meeting was again called to review the decision taken earlier. I along with other Cabinet colleagues shared the view that whatever collective decisions the Cabinet takes, such decisions should be prompt and that we should stick to it instead of reviewing them again and again. It was Dr Shurhozelie who submitted in written to the Hon’ble Chief Minister to hold the ULB elections and he also attended one of the Cabinet meetings and strongly suggested to conduct the civic polls. That was how it was decided that ULB elections would be held.
The M&PB should come out clearly as to when I approached to take over the leadership. I have never expected to replace Shri TR Zeliang or anyone for that matter. The meeting that took place at my official residence on February 16th, 2017 was the arrangement of Shri KG Kenye, Hon’ble MP Rajya Sabha and Shri Kiyanilie Peseyie who was the then Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. Whatever papers were signed by 42 MLAs in that meeting were taken away by Shri KG Kenye. Dr Shurhozelie staked claim to form the Government and that paper containing the signatures was annexed and submitted to Raj Bhavan at 4 p.m. on 18/02/2017 by Shri KG Kenye and Shri Kruzakie, PS to Dr Shurhozelie.
I do not deny that I have never contested from the NPF party and for the last 5 terms I was elected only from the INC party. The difference between Dr. Shurhozelie and Shri Neiphiu Rio is only because Shri Neiphiu Rio did not give his blessings to Dr Shurhozelie while leaving for Delhi as an MP. All said and done and without any prejudice, the Rajya Sabha MP should have been from Mokokchung District but it was Dr. Shurhozelie’s decision to have Shri KG Kenye elected to the Rajya Sabha.
When I was not included in Dr Shurhozelie’s Ministry, he blamed Shri TR Zeliang and offered me Chairmanship with Cabinet status but I declined. Again, on the 8th of July, 2017 after majority of the MLAs moved for change of leadership, Dr Shurhozelie sent two of his men asking me to meet him at Kohima. He contacted me through telephone around 11 a.m. the same day and again asked me to meet him at Kohima while continuing to blame Shri TR Zeliang. On 20th February 2017 after he was elected to be the Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie said that as far as possible, he will maintain status quo in Government formation and therefore he need not blame or shift responsibility to others for his own acts of omission or commission.
Some of the party workers who could not even get elected to Town Councils are rebuking the legitimate elected Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly without understanding their own position and credibility. Political parties are formed to have elected MLAs and MPs to form the Government and not only to maintain the party.
I am amused to see that Dr. Shurhozelie’s group wants to remain on the side without MLAs. Therefore, I appeal to the rank and file of the party to understand the ground realities and join the Government under the leadership of Shri TR Zeliang, Hon’ble Chief Minister and Shri Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble MP Lok Sabha and Interim President, NPF.
Sd/-
( TOKHEHO YEPTHOMI )
Minister, Parliamentary Affairs
