Swearing-in ceremony at Khouchiezie (Kohima local ground); Modi likely to attend
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Neiphiu Rio with representatives from NDPP, BJP, JD (U) and an independent candidate on Sun. at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima. (EM Images)[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, Mar. 4 (EMN): Chief ministerial candidate of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance, Neiphiu Rio has on Sun. called on Governor PB Acharya at the Raj Bhavan, Kohima to stake claim to form the next government in Nagaland.
Rio is said to have informed the governor that he has the support of 32 MLAs: the NDPP-BJP alliance won 30 seats and has the support of one independent MLA and one JD (U) MLA taking the number to 32 seats, and past the magic figure of 31. He also handed over letters of support from the BJP party as well as from JD (U) and independent MLAs.
Rio was accompanied by BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, BJP Nagaland president Visasolie Lhoungu, NDPP president Chingwang Konyak, newly elected JD (U) MLA G Kaito Aye, and the newly elected lone independent MLA Tongpang Ozukum, and NDPP general secretaries Abu Metha and Rusemtong Longkumer.
The governor is said to have told Rio to prove his majority by producing support letters of the MLAs who were with him. In a late night development, Rio told NDTV that the two NPP MLAs have agreed to join the alliance and was expecting letter of support at the earliest.
According to a release from PRO Raj Bhavan, Rio expressed confidence that the NDPP and BJP alliance would be able to form a stable government in the state as the numbers were on their side.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministry will be held either on Mar. 7 or 8th, depending on PMO approval as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the ceremony. Unlike other years, the ceremony has been scheduled to be held at Khouchiezie (Kohima local ground), according to sources from the NDPP.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister TR Zeliang is also reported to have called on the governor Sun. afternoon with some of the elected NPF MLAs and claimed to form the next government as NPF has emerged as the single largest party in the recently conducted general elections to the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
PRO stated in the release that Zeliang also informed the governor that he enjoyed the support of other elected members.
“Governor Acharya has instructed TR Zeliang to prove his majority by bringing the letter of support from the supporting MLAs. The Governor stated that once he is satisfied that a party has the majority; he will act according to the Constitution of India,” the release said.
The NDPP has, during the recently concluded assembly elections, won 18 seats out of 60 and its pre-poll ally BJP won 12 while ruling NPF won 26 and NPF ally NPP won two seats. The JD (U), which recently affirmed its alliance with NPF decided to ditch the latter post declaration of election result and pledged allegiance to NDPP-BJP coalition on Mar. 3 evening. Tongpang Ozukum, the only successful independent candidate in the 2018 election has also pledged his support to the NDPP-BJP alliance and the leadership of Rio.
The NPF and BJP who had been alliance partners since 2003, parted ways just before the assembly elections after the latter entered into a seat sharing agreement (20-40) with the NDPP.
However, the NPF is said to still be keen on joining hands with the BJP to form the government. While this could not be confirmed, a senior NPF legislator who also accompanied Zeliang to Raj Bhavan said it was crucial that the BJP and NPF remained alliance partners otherwise it would negatively impact the ruling government in neighbouring Manipur. NPF currently has four MLAs in the treasury bench in Manipur assembly alongside BJP, in an alliance.
Another senior NPF MLA said the party was still confident to form the government as it still has the support of NPP and JD (U). But when pointed out that the JD (U) had already announced its decision to support rival NDPP-BJP alliance, he said NPF was still positive. In the event it failed to garner the support of the decisive figure, they would put up a strong opposition force in the assembly.
Sources said the governor has given chief minister Zeliang 48 hours to prove his majority by producing evidence of support from the elected members he was claiming to be on his side. If Rio does not prove his majority before that, Governor Acharya is said to have told Zeliang he can continue as chief minister till Mar. 13. The tenure of the current Nagaland Legislative Assembly will expire on Mar. 13.
Mention may be made here that NPF Manipur president Awangbow Newmai and NPP Manipur president Thangminlen Kipgen have written to BJP national president Amit Shah on Sun. expressing that the NPF, BJP and NPP should form the government in Nagaland as the NPF and NPP were already alliance partners of the BJP-led government in Manipur. They asked Shah to intervene immediately ‘in the interest of Nagaland in particular and the whole of north-east at large’.
Currently the BJP has 31 legislators in Manipur, supported by 4 each from NPP and NPF, and one each from LJP and independent; raising the total to 41. Initially the BJP had 21 MLAs but it reached the current figure after 9 INC and 1 AITC joined the BJP.
In case the NPF decides to sever ties with the BJP in Manipur, the latter will still be left with 37 MLAs in the Manipur assembly. The INC has only 19 MLAs.
