CHINGWANG AS CHAIRMAN & LHOUNGU CO-CHAIRMAN
The Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) ministry has been expanded after 13 party functionaries were given either cabinet or ministers of state status.
The expansion was in addition to the elected members NDPP (18), BJP (12) NPP (2), JD-U (1) and Independent (1) who are cabinet ministers or advisers (some with cabinet status).
On Tuesday, Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya okayed the inclusion of 13 party functionaries of the four PDA alliance partners– NDPP, BJP, NPP and JD (U) through separate notifications issued on May 1, 2018.
According to the notification issued by the cabinet secretariat, the three who were given cabinet status included—NDPP president, Chingwang Konyak, who was appointed as chairman of PDA; state BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu, appointed as PDA co-chairman and NDPP secretary general, Abu Metha who was appointed as member secretary.
In another notification, the following ten party functionaries who were given rank as ministers of state included- Neiba Ndang (NDPP), H Chuba Chang (NDPP), Charlie Sekhose (NDPP), James Vizo (BJP), Eduzu Theluo (BJP), Yanbose Murry (BJP), Ato Yepthomi (NPP president), Sasank Ghatraj (NPP general secretary), G. Viccashe Sumi (NPP executive member) and Y.M. Humtose of the JD (U).
NPCC slams govt; says violation of poll conduct
Wasting no time, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has hit out at the PDA government for what it described as total “violation of the Election Model Code of Conduct” by appointing individuals belonging to various political parties either in the rank of cabinet minister and minister of state.
Questioning the Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland and Election Commission of India, NPCC took to twitter and asked: “Isn’t this a gross violation of Election MCC in addition to being illegal appointments that will be a burden on state exchequer?”
The party also posted on twitter the scanned copies of appointment notifications, tagging CEO Nagaland, Election Commission and others.
NPCC general secretary, GK Zhimomi, also took to twitter and slammed the appointments. He said all top NDPP-BJP, NPP and JD (U) party functionaries have been accorded with cabinet and minister of state status.
“Truly change has come, more VVIPs sans nameplates. Incredible Nagaland where anything and everything is possible,” Zhimomi tweeted.