Though chief minister, T.R. Zeliang inducted six legislators into his cabinet in the recent reconstitution of his cabinet on Saturday, yet none of them has been allotted portfolios.
It was learnt that T.R. Zeliang does have some problems with finalizing his team as there is the issue of district/tribal representation, a problem that has always plagued incumbents in the past.
According to reliable sources in the government, chief minister, T.R. Zeliang will, in all probability, allot portfolios on Tuesday to the six new ministers who were sworn-in on Saturday by Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya.
The portfolios that have been “freed” after six were dropped included: department of Home Affairs, department of School Education, Rural Development, PWD Roads and Bridges, Geology & Mining and department Forest, Environment and Climate Change.
In order to accommodate some district/tribe, it was learnt that chief minister, T.R. Zeliang could further bring about some changes in his cabinet. This could come by way of dropping one or two and inducting the same number to offset the imbalances.
This has only added to the growing disgruntlement within the ruling NPF which continues to be dogged by demand for lucrative portfolios on one side and on the other side, attempt for change of leadership by a faction of legislators.
Besides demand for allotment of portfolios, berth for some districts/tribes, the chief minister also has to take into consideration the likelihood of the Gauhati High Court, Principal Bench giving its judgment on the issue of the unconstitutional posts of parliamentary secretaries and advisors.
It is most likely that in the event of T.R. Zeliang being compelled to comply with the Supreme Court order on dismissal of the unconstitutional posts of parliamentary secretaries and advisors, the only option would be to rename the post of parliamentary secretary as chairman who will be given charge of respective departments or state corporations.
State chief minister T.R. Zeliang may have survived the fourth challenge to his innings but he is certainly not out of the woods yet ever after re-uniting with long-time patron Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, NPF president.
A significant number of legislators, particularly from Kohima district are not with the present ruling set up except for the party president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, MLA. Kohima district has seven MLAs, one seat is vacant following the demise of Kiyanilie Peseyie.
In the present political imbroglio chief minister T.R. Zeliang find himself in a typical Catch 22 situation.