Kohima, Feb. 19: The political drama in Nagaland continues to unfold with sharper twists: on Sunday afternoon, even after the arrival of Chief Minister TR Zeliang from Delhi, the drama as to who would take over as the next chief minister played on, now that Zeliang has submitted his resignation.
The ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) is facing turmoil for the second time since the mandate of 2013 with the resignation of Zeliang from the top post. There has been a rather vociferous demand by various tribal organisations for TR Zeliang to resign owning responsibility for the violent events that followed the state government’s decision to conduct the municipal and town council elections.
Since then, majority of the party’s MLAs have been observed engaging in the politicking with often drastic manoeuvres particularly during the past 72 hours.
First, they had claimed to support the party’s president Dr. Shurhozelie LIezietsu to take over the reins from TR Zeliang to the point of even announcing it at a press conference convened at a cabinet minister’s residence.
Within 24 hours though, the same MLAs, or most of them, took a U-turn by rushing to a resort in Kaziranga in neighbouring Assam. 49 out of the 60 MLAs–excluding Zeliang, the speaker and a few others–were said to have been present at a meeting in Kaziranga.
It was widely reported that the MLAs present at the meeting had agreed in principle to propose former chief minister and incumbent Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio to take over as the chief minister after Zeliang.
However, a meeting of NPF legislators following the arrival of the chief minister late this afternoon is said to have concluded inconclusively. The issue over who would take over the coveted chair continued at the time this report was going to the press.
According to a reliable source, Dr. Shurhozielie now seems to be the unanimous choice as Rio did not specify directly that he wanted to return to state politics. This information comes barely as a surprise because Rio was never reported or quoted of his aspirations to return to the state’s politics.
Also, the source disclosed that the MLAs close to Zeliang were in ‘status quo of their portfolios’ as a condition for their allegiance. The source said that, however, considering the current environment, smooth transition was being expected as Dr. Shurhozelie appeared to be having the upper hand.
Rio is currently under suspension along with fellow veteran politician Imkong L Imchen by the NPF party since May 2016. Although he currently holds the chair as MP to Lok Sabha under the aegis of the NPF, unless the suspension was revoked, there would be a problem for him to take over as chief minister, he added.
It was also reported that some of the MLAs are not ready to leave the NPF party in case it is necessitated if Rio's suspension is not revoked.
Meanwhile, during the day, upon hearing about ‘some bookings’ made by a few MLAs, some youth supporters of Dr. Shurhozelie reportedly went to Hotel Japfu in Kohima town and created commotion asserting that the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) had cautioned against using hotels for any political or government activity.
AYO officials later clarified that there was ‘bandh relaxation’ on Sunday and its volunteers were not on duty. Another group of youths claiming to be Rio’s supporters also gathered at the same venue, which was adjacent to the NPF’s central office. However, no untoward incident between the two groups occurred.
Nagaland Legislative Speaker Chotisuh Sazo and minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiyanilie Peseyie–who is also the chief whip of the NPF legislature party–were reported to have met with the party’s president Dr. Shurhozelie late Sunday evening. Sources said that the speaker, who had also reportedly met with the chief minister and MP Rio, asked the trio to come to an understanding. He is also said to have requested the party’s president to review the suspension order against Rio considering the prevailing situation. It was learnt that Shurhozelie had referred the matter to the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee. However, Dr. Shurhozelie could not be reached for confirmation.
Earlier on Sunday, while briefing legislators at the State Banquet Hall about his trip to the national capital, Chief Minister TR Zeliang said he had learned in the course of his interactions with various central leaders that there were various reports submitted to the Government of India seeking imposition of President’s Rule in Nagaland.
“Besides normal and regular reports passed on to the central government from the governor, the Intelligence Bureau, the Assam Rifles and the CRPF, there were reports submitted by the NPCC and a learned retired Supreme Court Judge recommending immediate imposition of central rule by the President of India owing to what they said was a breakdown in the government machinery. But I pointed out that Naga people cannot afford to have PR when the political talks are going ahead to solve the Naga political issue,” a press release from the Chief Minister’s office quoted him.
“But now I can confidently assure you that there is little chance of PR being imposed in Nagaland.”
“To arrive at a consensus decision requires time, and so I have accordingly asked for a short period of time to be given,” Zeliang is said to have remarked.
“Central leaders and some groups I met in Delhi told me they have received suggestions that Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio should come back to the state and take over the helms of affairs, but I made it clear to them I cannot decide by myself in Delhi and that I have to consult the NPF legislators, and the alliance partners. However, I have told them that I shall take the suggestion back to Nagaland and let the legislators and the party decide,” the CMO’s press release quoted Zeliang.
