NPF puts number in dissident camp at 14

NPF Press Bureau, NPF Central Headquarters Kohima,said it was shocked and aghast by the “motivated report” about the “fake number claims of Kaito camp” as reported in Nagaland Post on January 7 and said it was a “fictitious claim” made by “vested interested individuals.” NPF press reiterated that the NPF legislature party in Nagaland Legislative Assembly was restricted within the MLAs and does not include MPs, who could neither convene or patronise meeting or support such decisions.
It said purported election of Kaito Aye as the leader and Imkong L.Imchen as the spokesperson was merely the claim of a faction and not of the party as a party was entirely different from a faction since the latter was not recognised either by the constitution of India or the NPF constitution.
NPF claimed that the NPF legislature under T.R.Zeliang was “absolutely intact” and debunked the claim by the Kaito faction that it has more than 24 MLAs. Rectifying the claim made by the Kaito faction, the NPF said the name of the Speaker which was included, was against parliamentary conventions since the Speaker does not take sides and can only cast vote in case of a tie in the house. Further, it said Vikho-o Yhoshu and Kejong Chang, whose names had also been included, was totally misleading as they continue to acknowledge the leadership of T.R.Zeliang.
NPF said Kaito, Azo, Pukhayi, Tovihoto, Zhaleo Rio, Shetoyi and Pohwang will not have participatory voting rights in NPF political and legislature meetings since they have already been suspended by the party and therefore, their names cannot be included in the list in Kaito’s camp.
In the light of the above, NPF said after excluding the Speaker and two MLAs (Vikho-o Yhoshu and Kejong Chang, who are with the CM) and seven suspended MLAs, the exact number with Kaito’s camp was 14 legislators only.
Pointing to the news report , NPF further pointed out that Tohanba, Yitachu and Neiba Kronu, whose names were shown as ‘undecided’ were in fact, “die-hard supports of T.R.Zeliang”.It also said the name of Tohanba was shown twice and that Nuklotoshi and C.L.John and Thongwang mentioned as ‘out of station’ were “very well with the chief minister in station”. NPF said coalition partners -JDU, NCP and seven independent MLAs were still with the government and therefore, added, that the toll claims of Kaito’s camp was “totally false and misleading”.
It termed the report as claimed as damaging and intended to “artificially pep up the sagging numbers of the dissident camp”. NPF also expressed strong resentment against the “interference of the BJP unit” whose actions it termed as amounting to “gross interference” in the internal affairs of the NPF. It reminded the state BJP, that as a coalition partner, it has to keep channels open only to the recognised party president and recognised legislature party leader and chief minister. NPF said any attempt to enthuse the dissident group would be “viewed as a deliberate violation of the coalition dharma.”
NPF endorses
NPF has endorsed the suspension order of the party president issued on January 5 to seven members of the party.  In a press release, eight party members comprising of working presidents – Apong Pongener and Huska Yepthomi; vice presidents – Zaku Tsukru, Pusazo Luruo and S. Shingyu; general secretaries B.P. Hanghuh and Blaise Iheilung and chairman life membership cell Pinyimthung Lotha said the party was of the view that discipline should be uphold at all times. Pointing out that there were certain elements who are hell bent on to dislodge the government, the party said their desperate attempt have violated all party norms and have attracted disciplinary action and the suspension order.
They reminded party rank and file that NPF constitution was supreme and anybody who acted on their own whims would not be tolerated.
The decision to install T.R. Zeliang as chief minister was collective decision of the party including the elected members, said the NPF members. They warned that any attempt to disrupt the present arrangement by proposing to replace the leadership was in complete contravention of party norms and practices.
All such actions are “against the interest of the party” and had the tendency to divided NPF into factions and jeopardise the stability of the government, said NPF.
“We cannot betray the people of Nagaland who has reposed their confidence to the party because of our declared policies in the constitution and election manifesto thereby returning us back for the third consecutive time”, said NPF members. The party also stressed on finding an honourable solution to the Indo-Naga political problem and supported the party president’s action and the action of the chief minister in removing a few ministers and some parl. secretaries.