Zeliang says he was dislodged as CM because ‘I am from a minority tribe’

Dimapur, Feb. 28: Former chief minister, TR Zeliang on Tuesday claimed that he was ‘dislodged’ from his seat “not because I had lost the support of the MLAs but because I am from a minority tribe in Nagaland”. An NPF press release quoted Zeliang as saying this during an election rally at Tamenglong in Manipur on Tuesday afternoon. “I had the support of the MLAs but people from outside the Assembly protested violently demanding that I should step down within a stipulated period. “To contain these protestors, I could have brought in central forces like your chief minister Ibobi or Jammu & Kashmir had done. But for the sake of peace and harmony in the state, I chose to step down. But do not be disheartened. The government is in good hands and better days are ahead,” the statement quoted him. This, according to the statement, drew ‘sympathetic nods and comments’ from crowd of ‘several-thousands strong NPF people and Zeliangrong gathering’. Zeliang was also reported as saying that he has no regrets of vacating the chair of chief minister after “some elements resorted to violent means demanding him to step down” saying he has handed over the chair to a person who loves the party and the people, and who he said, was sure to take the party and the party-led DAN government to greater heights. Zeliang had resigned on February 19 last, after a tumultuous tenure of a little more than two years that was capped off by violent agitations from community organisations – led by the JCC and the NTAC – over the now-nullified municipal polls. The agitating tribe organisations had demanded Zeliang’s resignation on moral grounds in the aftermath of his decision to conduct civic bodies’ elections leading to death of 3 persons. Since then, he has been allotted the portfolio of Advisor (Finance), while also succeeding Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu as the chairman of DAN coordination committee.