People elected you to work, not to fight for loaves & fishes: Gov
Nagaland Governor P.B.Acharya reminded legislators that they were elected to serve people and not to fight for loaves and fishes of office and that they should be united to serve and not divided into warring groups to fight for positions of power. He said this while addressing the 7th (Emergent)Session of the 12th NLA convened for the trust vote on the T.R.Zeliang-led DAN-III government here Thursday.
The Governor also pointed out that short-lived houses and political instability for whatever reasons, do not serve people’s interest. He urged members to conduct themselves as caring and responsible leaders sensitive to the need of the people they represent. He cautioned that divisions and pulls adversely affect the constitutional duty for good governance. He also pointed out that the centre was fully committed towards finding an early settlement to the Naga political issue and his government’s role as a facilitator.
He also highlighted his government’s objective to uplift the economic development of the state through consultative exercises for investments and setting up of NSDZs as passed by the house. Further, the Governor also reiterated his government’s commitment for exploration and development of oil and gas within the framework of Article 371(A) of the constitution besides initiating online tax forms, e-services, e-returns for higher revenue.
History was made at the 7th (Emergent)session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly today, when the entire house of 59 legislators from the NPF, BJP, JDU, NCP, INC and Independents (barring the Speaker) voted to express confidence in the T.R.Zeliang-led DAN-III coalition government and thus ending the month-long political logjam state. Earlier, after the Governor’s address, Speaker Chotisuh Sazo invited the leader of the house and chief minister T.R.Zeliang to move the motion of confidence on his government.
In his speech, the chief minister said he decided to seek the vote of confidence of the house in order to clear the political logjam and the confusion caused by “false propaganda” by some people, that he was heading a minority government.
He informed the house that some misguided legislators even wanted to form a new government by claiming to have support of majority of NPF legislators.The chief minister said the dissident legislators had even met the Governor for dismissal of his government. Zeliang also responded by refuting various allegations made against him. He said that though he tried to accommodate and appease many, yet the dissidence against him was mainly discontentment with berths and portfolios. He said these should not be a reason for bringing divisions and to charge the government he headed for failing to govern.
The chief minister reiterated that the top most priority of his government was for the settlement of the Naga political issue and assured members that no effort would be spared to pursue the objective.
“An objective look into what is happening in our society today leads us to infer that more often than not, personal benefit is the motive that guides our actions” said Zeliang.
He reminded elected members that they should lead by example and that their actions must be guided by the interests of the people they represent. Winding up his speech for the voting to take place, T.R. Zeliang said he was duty bound to protect the dignity of the chief minister’s chair so that it was not turned into a musical chair, where incumbents could be changed at the whims and fancies of “some unprincipled politicians.”
The motion of confidence was first put to voice vote, with ‘Aye’ in favour and none saying ‘No’. However, the leader of the house and chief minister T.R.Zeliang wanted the vote to be registered through ballot so as to place it on record for future reference. After the ballot papers were counted, all 59 members who were present voted in favour and none against to make it 59-0 (the Speaker did not vote). After the vote, the Speaker called upon three members-Kaito Aye, Imkong L.Imchen and Kuzholuzo Neinu- to speak from the Noke-Kaito group.
In his brief speech, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu said that though his group had decided not to speak, yet lauded the speaker’s invitation as a “good gesture”. Commenting on the turn out in the house, on the occasion, Azo took a jibe suggesting that the house should be summoned every month for no confidence motions, in order to attract such a large attendance of HoDs, AHoDs, public etc.
G.Kaito Aye who spoke also chose to agree with Azo by adding, that if the state has enough money, the house should be summoned every month so that all HoDs, government employees etc should be invited to witness “our difficulties”. However, Imkong L.Imchen chose not to make any speech on the occasion.
The security arrangements around and within the assembly was tight as a precautionary measure.
During the first voting by voice vote, legislators in the ruling party headed by chief minister T.R.Zeliang perhaps had anticipated some heated debates. The extent of the vote also probably caught most of them by surprise although it was known by February 4 that the Congress with 8 MLAs would vote for the government. It was also learnt, that the four BJP members were asked to vote for the government by the central party leaders on February 5.
Meanwhile, Yitachu moved the motion for thanks on the governor’s address and seconded by Vikheho. The house was adjourned sine-die.
Monday, April 20, 2026