When Nagaland Post broke the story on Monday exposing the political coup that took place on Sunday within the ruling NPF in Dimapur, the impact reverberated across the political spectrum with the battle for numbers heating up in the two rival camps.
A hotel in Kohima has been turned into a camp for pro- T.R. Zeliang group; while in Dimapur, the dissident group has been camping in some guest houses in Sovima.
Sources revealed that the T.R.Zeliang group, bedevilled by the current financial crisis and other issues, has reportedly lost the grip and reduced to a minority. On the other hand, the dissident group, backed by Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio has managed to obtain majority that included around three cabinet ministers and five parliamentary secretaries. According to insiders within the dissident group, a total of 23 NPF legislators have already joined the camp and were expecting more to follow from Tuesday onwards.
Three BJP legislators have also joined the dissident group, while the fourth was reportedly out of station.
When contacted, state BJP president Dr.M.Chuba Ao told Nagaland Post, that party legislators were informed not to take part in the ongoing feud within the NPF as it was purely “an internal affair”. He said the BJP will decide on the next step to be taken, when the situation developed.
NPF suspends 7
Naga People’s Front (NPF) has suspended seven dissident party members – two cabinet ministers and five parliamentary secretaries of the T.R. Zeliang led government from primary and active membership of NPF.
Those suspended include minister of industry and commerce G. Kaito Aye; minister for roads & bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu; parliamentary secretary for urban development Zhaleo Rio; parliamentary secretary for sericulture & cooperation Pukhayi; parliamentary secretary for fire & emergency services Pohwang Konyak; parliamentary secretary for fisheries Shetoyi; parliamentary secretary for science & technology, information technology & communication, technical education, taxation Tovihoto Ayemi.
In an order passed by NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, the party said the members have been suspended for associating themselves with “detractors and deviators” of the party’s goals and objectives of providing good and stable governance to the people of Nagaland.
NPF said the suspended members have committed serious breach of disciplines as enshrined in the constitution of the party. The party alleged that the members who were also members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly have been “sabotaging” the leadership of T.R. Zeliang in whom the NPF has placed confidence and trust to lead the government in the state and conspired to “overawe and overthrow” the legitimate government in the state.
According to the party, the members have “violated” various provisions of the NPF constitution and had brought “disrepute” to the party and the government in the public eye as evidenced from news report that published in Nagaland Post on January 5.
The NPF order said that the seven members have been suspended with primary and active membership of NPF with immediate effect until further orders “with no participatory or voting rights” in all political/legislature party forums, except voting rights on the floor of the legislative assembly in accordance with party whip.
8 sacked from Govt.
All of those suspended from the party has also been sacked from their respective portfolios including the cabinet berths.
Among those sacked from their positions also include one parliamentary secretary for women development & border affairs N. Thomas Ngullie who was an Independent MLA. They have been sacked with immediate effect through an order passed by the chief minister and notified by the cabinet secretary. The sacking of the two minister- Kaito Aye and Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu has also been “accepted and approved” by the Governor, stated a communiqué from Raj Bhavan.
MINISTERS/PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES SACKED
G. Kaito Minister for Industries & Commerce
N. Thomas Ngullie, Parl. Secretary Women Development & Border Affairs (39 A/C Sanis)
NPF MLAS SUSPENDED FROM PARTY
Name Portfolio Assembly Constituency
G. Kaito Minister for Industries & Commerce 36 A/C Satakha
Kuzholuzo Nienu Minister Roads & Bridges 19 A/C Phek
Kuzholuzo Nienu Minister Roads & Bridges
Tovihoto Ayemi, Parl. Secretary Science & Technolog, IT&C, TE and Taxation
Zhaleo Rio, Parl. Secretary Urban Development
Shetoyi, Parl. Secretary Fisheries
Tovihoto Ayemi Parl. Secretary Science & Technology, IT&C, TE and Taxation 1 A/C Dimapur-I
Zhaleo Rio Parl. Secretary Urban Development 5 A/C Ghaspani-II
Shetoyi Parl. Secretary Fisheries 33 A/C Suruhoto
Pukhayi Parl. Secretary Sericulture & Cooperation 34 A/C Aghunato
Pukhayi, Parl. Secretary Sericulture & Cooperation
Pohwang, Parl. Secretary Fire & Emergency Services, Relief & Rehabilitation
Pohwang Parl. Secretary Fire & Emergency Services, Relief & Rehabilitation 44 A/C Phomching
G. Kaito elected leader of rival group
NPF legislators opposed to the leadership of T.R. Zeliang on Monday in Dimapur, unanimously elected Industries minister G. Kaito Aye as the new leader of the NPF legislature party and also empowered him to form the new government. The meeting also appointed Imkong L. Imchen as the spokesman of the NPF legislature party and that all communiqués and information to the press would only be released through him.
Stating this, Imkong L.Imchen, the new spokesperson of the NPF legislature party also said the meeting appealed to the NPF party leadership “to allow inner democracy” prevail as in the case when change of guard was effected when Noke had “selflessly withdrawn” his candidature in the greater interest of unity of the NPF party.
The meeting also resolved to express “utmost concern” for the unity of NPF and made it clear that the present exercise was “not anti-party in any manner but only a move for change of leadership within the democratic norms.”
It was also resolved to appeal to all NPG workers at all levels to “remain calm and united” in the party’s interest and it was also assured that the present move was not aimed at damaging the aspirations, vision and principles of the party. Expressing full faith in the democratic foundations, the meeting also expressed confidence that democracy will be allowed to prevail in a smooth manner.
The legislators also assured the people of Nagaland that they will form a stable DAN government under the presidentship of NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie and have a positive partnership with the NDA government at the centre to strengthen the peace process and bring about an early solution to the Naga political issue along with all round development of the state.
MPs back Kaito-group
Meanwhile, in a joint statement, Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi, have informed that following the collective decision by the majority NPF legislators to effect change of leadership of the present ministry, and in view of signed letters of support to Kaito to lead the NPF legislature party and DAN government, they have also decided to extend support to the majority view of the legislators.
Both Rio and Khekiho have also appealed to party members to remain calm and united and allow inner party democracy of the legislators prevail and that the democratic principle of majority “should be allowed to prevail in the greater interest of the NPF.” The two MPs said their greatest concern was to strengthen the NPF in all areas where the party was present and therefore, the need of the hour was to remain united and give an opportunity for the will of majority to prevail.
They said Nagaland was in need of a stable and effective government that would share a positive relation with the government of India for bringing an early resolution of the Naga peace process and to accelerate development in the state.The two MPs appeared to the NPF president and NPF legislature to ensure a smooth transition as in the past when Noke magnanimously withdrew his candidature in the greater interest of party unity.
Suspension
In a counter-move to reduce the voting strength of the dissident group, the NPF through its president Dr.Shürhozelie, suspended seven legislators that included two cabinet ministers and five parliamentary secretaries from the primary and active membership of the party on Monday.
The suspension would mean that the legislators have become party-less and therefore, would not be considered as NPF legislators. The suspension was seen as a desperate attempt to reduce the voting strength of the dissident group which would be reduced by seven. Insiders within the Kaito group claimed they have 23 NPF legislators and more would be joining them. After the NPF suspended seven legislators, who are with the Kaito group, the effective voting strength would be reduced to 16.