In a hard-hitting statement, NPF Central Kohima, through its press and media cell issued “a final call” to all legislators, party men and women, particularly those held “under the influence of senior power monger leaders at Sovima rebel camp” to rejoin the “mainstream immediately before the door is closed.”
It accused the “rebels” of using “every available machineries and manufactured baseless propaganda” to dislodge the duly elected government and also take over “ the legal party through backdoor.”
It also accused “dissident/rebel ring leaders” of “ forcibly confining” legislators in the camps to restrict “other upcoming legislators from expressing their free will” for their electorates. NPF Central Kohima said it was constrained to “expose” for people to reason and judge, “who are arrogantly misleading the upcoming legislators” and party workers “with their cheap and unfounded propaganda to grab power.”
NPF Central stated that: 1. Neiphiu Rio, former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP; Khekiho Zhimomi Rajya Sabha MP, G.Kaito Aye “an ambitious CM candidate of rebel group” and Zhaleo Rio “ are matrimonial family members, who are all out working to dislodge the government for their family rule”. 2. That different cases were pending against Imkong L. Imchen, Khekiho Zhimomi (“whose Rajya Sabha tenure is ending”) and Dr. Benjongliba; 3. That Noke had refused to lead the party when opportunity was given during power transition in May 2014 but now trying to “act as a puppet unrecognised party president, spewing political venom” on central leaders; 4. That C.M. Chang, Kuzhuluzo Neinu, Pangnyu Phom, Merentoshi Jamir, Zhaleo Rio, Pukhayi Sumi, Imkong L. Imchen, Dr.Benjongliba were all “promised cabinet berth in their mission impossible ministry”; 5. That upcoming MLAs and ex-party candidates were hoodwinked with “lucrative post in the impossible ministry” and Rio and Kaito only working for “their next general election package and nothing else”; 6. That the road conditions deteriorated during ministerhip of G. Kaito Aye as PWD (R&B) for which public was suffering today.
NPF Central said it was an “open book for any sensible Naga” that the game played by the “rebel leaders” would soon sink their ship with the “entire package” to prepare for the assembly election in 2018 as nothing could pull down the NPF-led DAN government under the leadership of T.R. Zeliang and presidentship of Dr. Shürhozelie.
On the Naga political issue, NPF Central said the party has never deviated from its stand but the “rebels” who ran the previous government with sufficient time, instead of questioning themselves were “desperately trying to capitalise the issue today to confuse the general mass.” NPF Central said “these rebels” should answer to the Naga people instead of the government of a few months, which was cleaning the dirt left by the predecessor.
On the ongoing issue, it pointed out that the cabinet had requested the Governor to summon a special session of the house for a vote of confidence which “the rebel leaders are refusing to face” fearing defeat but making loud noises.
NPF media cell said there was no way to resolve the impasse outside the assembly “no matter how much the rebel leaders try to manufacture all concocted lies. It said while voting, those voting against their party government would be disqualified but those voting for would retain their seats so as to work for their respective constituencies.
NPF press media cell also said the efforts of the “rebel group” to form government outside the floor of the house “will simply remain a dream”.
It also stated that “parallel illegitimate meetings” with write-ups to keep their flock together and copy-pasting Central Office letter head just to claim “their illogical legitimacy” that will be cleared in a few days.
NPF press and media cell said the acute financial crisis faced by the state which the “rebel group” blamed on the government was in fact inherited from Neiphiu Rio’s government. It said when the state was facing financial crisis, Rio and Kaito group was “lavishly spending crores of rupees buying party men and women at Sovima rebel camp and Niathu resort”.
It said that since the 14th Finance Commission would come into effect from April 1,2015, the “power, money mongers” were trying to “ grab power by hook or crook” to “crush the aspiration of common people” but vowed that NPF would not allow it at any cost.
The press and media cell said that NPF Central leadership strongly felt that the present crisis has strengthened the party by testing the leadership quality among party workers which it said was a “blessing in disguise for Naga people to filter out rotten element from public domain”.
It said the NPF party will win its stand at the appropriate platform and take off in the next few days and urged Naga public not to be swayed by the “false political prophets who are barking at their own shadows”. The NPF media cell said it foresaw “better days coming, for cleaner and effective governance, as the most of the power mongers will be voted out on the floor of the house very soon.”
Friday, February 20, 2026