Ruling NPF has majority of MLAs, says Yitachu

Parliamentary Secretary school education Yitachu who has been appointed as the spokesperson of the NPF legislators in the government, reiterated that the present effective strength of the NPF has been reduced from 38 to 29 following the suspension of nine dissident NPF legislators by the party president.
Addressing media persons at Hotel de Oriental, where the NPF MLAs have been camping, Yitachu described the activities of NPF legislators at the rival camp in Sovima as “anti-party”. He said the dissident NPF MLAs can only join or form another party after resigning their membership of the house and party. However, if they voted against the party government, then they would be disqualified as per the Tenth Schedule of the constitution, he said.
 Yitachu also pointed out that NPF was duly registered with and recognised by the Election Commission of India(ECI) and therefore, all decisions have to be within the ambit of the party constitution.
He said as per the NPF constitution, the party comprises of Central Executive Committee (CEC)- the highest forum of the party, empowered to constitute the party’s election board and also to constitute the team of office bearers. Once constituted, the list of office bearers undergoes a process of approval at the party convention, convened by the CEC in consultation with Central Office bearers.
The final list was then submitted to the ECI and any addition etc. was to be intimated and approved by the ECI. Yitachu said chief minister T.R. Zeliang has both the law and the party on his side and was confident that the “government is secure”. He said the government would continue to function as it had majority within and outside the house and dismissed the notion of President’s Rule.
On the claim of the Kaito group that they have the support of eight district presidents and some divisional presidents, Yitachu said the detailed list of the party CEC and others was with the ECI, and so only a scrutiny of the list will prove that “truth will prevail.”
To queries, Yitachu said action against the two MPs(Rio and Khekiho) will be taken at an appropriate time and that other legislators were not suspended as they were unaware of the factual position.
Taking a jibe at the NPF(Kaito group), he said they wanted to form the government last week, then being invited by the Governor(after consultations with the advocate general) and meeting central leaders. He asked how can the rival camper make false promises and keeping elected members in confinement?
Yitachu reminded that as per the Tenth Schedule of the constitution, no split can take place in a party as the party constitution stipulated that it required at least 3/4th of the CEC members and 2/3rd majority of divisional units.
On the state BJP giving support to the dissidents, he said that since BJP was with DAN, the unit should not have withdrawn support to the ruling government.
Yitachu said the issue of change of leadership occurred only when Neiphiu Rio vacated the office of chief minister and after T.R.Zeliang became the next chief minister, there was no leadership issue.
 Therefore, since there was no leadership issue, Yitachu said those presently demanding removal of T.R.Zeliang were “dissidents” who have kept some legislators under duress and threat and their actions were “unconstitutional, undemocratic and illegal”.
He said change of leadership can only be moved through a constitutional process, while test for majority resolved on the floor of the house. It was in this regard, that the chief minister has sought a floor test where members would vote accordingly, he said.
Yitachu lamented, that though the government was functioning yet the general public were suffering since they could not meet with their elected representatives, who should not be controlled by whatever external forces.