The state cabinet, at a meeting held in the residential office of the chief minister on July 11, discussed the letter from the state Governor received on July 11, asking chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü to obtain vote of confidence on the floor of the house on or before July 15,2017.
According to a communiqué issued jointly by chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü and cabinet secretary Pankaj Kumar, after due discussion, the following were the considered views of the cabinet:
1.That the present dissidence within the NPF legislature was caused by dissident MLAs for change of leadership and so an internal party affair. There is no split in the NPF party and it supports the present council of ministers headed by Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü. The cabinet maintained that the party and the council of ministers collectively endeavour to resolve the internal party problem.
2. That those dissidents camped in Kaziranga under T.R. Zeliang demanding change of leadership were still NPF members and though as many as ten(10) have been suspended, yet they were still bound by their membership of the party and have no separate legal identity in the assembly. Therefore, the dissidents have no legal right to ask the Governor to effect change of leadership, an issue that could only be taken up in the official meeting of the NPF legislature party. Thus, they cannot demand summoning of a special session of the assembly to resolve an internal party matter.
3. On the Governor summoning the Legislative Assembly, the cabinet was of the firm opinion that there was no such justification for an emergent session to discuss or resolve the internal affairs of the NPF party.
4. On summoning of the assembly on or before July 15, the cabinet made a reference to the ruling of the Hon’ble Supreme Court (para 26) of the said judgment ruled “ … in such view of the matter, we are satisfied in concluding that the Governor can summon or prorogue and dissolve the house, only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers with the chief minister as the head. And not at his own.”
5. The Cabinet also pointed out that by election to the 10 Northern Angami –I Constituency was notified and model code of conduct in force. Since the chief minister has already filed his nomination to contest the by election, it would not be legally proper for the cabinet to advise and Governor to summon the state assembly during this election period.
6. In view of all the above, the council of ministers held the view that it would not be proper to summon the house at this juncture.
The cabinet also expressed shock and grief at the tragic bridge collapse in Dimapur on Tuesday evening. The cabinet also announced ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured. It also ordered an inquiry to ascertain the causes and prevent such recurrence in future.