RIO, KHEKIHO PATRONIZED ‘ILLEGAL’ MEETING
Both mps who patronised illegitimate meeting also come under the disciplinary scanner of the party
With dissident NPF party members and legislators gearing up to stake claim and form a new government, NPF secretary general K.G. Kenye Tuesday termed the meeting of the party dissidents led by G. Kaito Aye as “unconstitutional”.
In a press note, the NPF secretary- general said that as per the procedure in a parliamentary democracy, the leader of the legislature party alone can convene a meeting of the legislature party and the leader of NPF legislature party currently is T.R. Zeliang who by virtue of being such a leader is also the chief minister of the state.
He said that a parallel meeting of the legislature party or the political party can take place only when a split was caused in the party. While a split can be caused, any MLA who becomes part of the split-away group will be squarely disqualified under the 10th Schedule for voluntarily giving up the membership of the party since split is no more recognised in the 10th Schedule, he said.
All those MLAs, on production of their attendance sheet in public domain, will attract disqualification, the NPF secretary-general pointed out.
He said the parallel meeting of the legislature party was held without the knowledge and approval of the party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu and legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang and pointed out that this was “unconstitutional and ultra vires”.
K.G. Kenye also said that the two MPs – Neiphiu Rio and Khekiho Zhimomi who had patronized such an “illegal and illegitimate” meeting also come under the disciplinary scanner of the party and may become liable for disqualification from respective Houses of Parliament for the same reason.
The Apex Court has ruled in several cases that voluntarily giving up membership does not mean formal resignation only but also “inferences like anti-party activities.”
He also asked whether G. Kaito Aye who has been suspended from the NPF for anti-party activity and who membership of the assembly has itself come into question, can actually claim to form a “rebellious” government or can those who have been suspended from the party and face similar fate also become ministers.
K.G. Kenye said the governor however will follow Constitutional precedents, conventions and law laid down by the Apex Court in Bommai’s case for dealing with the situation.
He also informed that NPF president has suspended seven MLAs and also on the recommendation of the chief minister, the governor has dropped G. Kaito Aye and Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu from the council of ministers. The chief minister has also relieved six MLAs from functioning as parliamentary secretaries, he further added.