Against the backdrop of reconciliation within NPF groups, Noke Wangnao disclosed that there was no discussion on induction of NPF legislators who had opposed T.R.Zeliang .
Talking to Nagaland Post over telephone, Noke however said reconciliation within the two parties was on as per the directive of Election Commission of India (ECI).
Asked whether his group wholeheartedly embraced reconciliation and accepted Dr. Shürhozelie as the NPF president, Noke said “to save cock symbol we are following ECI’s advice to reconcile within the party and for which we have withdrawn letters to ECI. This automatically says that Dr. Shürhozelie is accepted as the president”. When it was pointed out that there were misconceptions to his speech at the NPF convention that Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio had insisted on him to “fight for leadership”, Noke clarified that he only said that Neiphiu Rio first asked him to be the chief minister as Rio wanted to contest the Lok Sabha election. He also clarified that initially, when Rio asked him whether he wanted to become the chief minister, he declined.
However, he said, when ENPO and party supporters after a meeting at Kohima expressed their desire to make him the chief minister, Noke said he accepted.
Later, when T R Zeliang became the chief minister, Noke said the former did not maintain status-quo in retaining the same composition as in Rio’s ministry. This did not “satisfy some members” leading to the split. Asked whether he was also amongst “some members” who was not satisfied with T R Zeliang’s ministry, Noke said “I don’t have any comment on it now”.