State BJP unit cracks the whip on its legislators

Drawing attention to media reports that three BJP legislators had elected the legislature party leader (Dr. T.M. Lotha) and chief whip (Mmhonlumo Kikon), Nagaland BJP unit through its secretary (administration) Vihoshe Sumi, informed that the Centre has directed the state party legislature to “withdraw the statement with immediate effect”.
Further it also informed that the statement on formation of legislature party leader and chief whip “is against the parliamentary norms of the party and is a direct challenge to the National President and the Parliamentary Board of the party”.
Further, the state BJP has also advised its party legislators “to leave the camp you are stationed, in the interest of the party” adding that their “kind reciprocation will be appreciated”.
Copies were addressed to party legislators– Dr. T.M. Lotha, Imtilemba Sangtam and Mmhonlumo Kikon; including Tapir Gao, Prabhari Nagaland; Ramlalji National General Secretary (Org) and Prashant Arora, General Secretary (Org).
Media cell slams NPCC
Meanwhile, reacting to the NPCC, the media cell of the State BJP has slammed Congress for blaming the public for the power struggle between rival NPF factions and instead accused the Congress having failed miserably as an effective opposition both within and outside the house.  The BJP media cell said that if Congress expected BJP to play the role of an opposition, then it only exposed “how confused they are”.
Further, the media cell said the BJP was well within its right to appeal to warring NPF groups to settle their internal dispute amicably. It said that going by the “dynamics of the present crisis”, there was nothing wrong for the state BJP to “conform its decisions to the fast changing political development”.
BJP media cell informed that the logic behind the state BJP’s decision to support the majority group led by G. Kaito Aye stem from the arithmetic that out of 44 DAN legislators (38 NPF, 4 BJP, 1 JDU and 1 NCP), Kaito’s group has 23 NPF legislators and with four from BJP, the combined strength was 27.
On the other hand, it said the CM’s (T.R. Zeliang) camp had 15 NPF legislators, 1 JDU and 1 NCP totalling 17 legislators. Media cell said BJP has no say over seeking support as its primary concern was to provide a stable government to last its full term.
Since the 23 in Kaito’s camp was “proven by head count as well as in letter”, media cell said there “was no basis for BJP to stay neutral” and made it clear the party support was for change of guard and not government.
Further, media cell clarified that it had no “hidden agenda but for stable government” in the interest of the state as its opinion was that the best option to end the ongoing impasse was to call for “physical parade at the earliest”.