Three parties formalise ‘United Govt’

Barely a week after an all-party meeting comprising BJP, NDPP, NPF and two Independent legislators agreed in principle to form an all-party government under the nomenclature “Nagaland United Government”, decks have now been cleared for an opposition-less government after all the parties signed a resolution formalising a move to work together towards “achieving a common goal for an early Naga political solution.”

Even though NPF legislators did not put any pre-condition in forming an opposition-less government, it has been learnt that in order to strike a balance, one cabinet post that fell vacant following the demise of senior NDPP member and minister CM Chang may be given to NPF with its leader TR Zeliang being made deputy chief minister.

Meanwhile, chief minister Neiphiu Rio in a tweet expressed joy that NDPP, BJP and NPF have come together “for an opposition-less government towards achieving our common goal for an early and peaceful solution to the ‘Naga Political Issue’.”

From NDPP chief minister Neiphiu Rio, party president Chingwang Konyak and ministers Neiba Kronu and G Kaito Aye signed the resolution, while deputy chief minister Y Patton, party’s State unit president and minister Temjen Imna Along and ministers S Pangnyu Phom and P Paiwang Konyak signed on behalf of BJP.

NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, leader of opposition TR Zeliang and MLAs Dr Chotisuh Sazo and Imkong L Imchen also signed the resolution on behalf of NPF.

Modalities to include the principal opposition party Naga People’s Front in the proposed government was also discussed and adopted unanimously, said the state’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Neiba Kronu.

At present the NDPP has 20 MLAs, BJP– 12, NPF– 25 and Independent– 2. It will be for the second time in Nagaland to witness an all-party government. The first all-party government was formed during DAN-III in 2015 when all eight Congress MLAs joined the government and subsequently merged with the NPF.

5-Point Resolution Adopted

1. The parties shall aim at promoting Naga peace talks with positive approach in the greater interest of achieving peace and to move forward under a positive environment that is conducive towards finding a political solution at the earliest time possible;

2. The parties shall appeal to all Naga political groups to make serious efforts towards unity and reconciliation;

3. The parties shall ensure unity of its members in the Legislative Assembly towards the issue and shall make all possible endeavours to achieve the objective;

4. The parties at this crucial juncture of “Naga Political Issue” shall encourage and impress upon Government of India and all negotiating parties to bring about the solution to a logical conclusion at the earliest;

5. The parties shall stand together towards achieving the goal of acceptable settlement.

Further, the parties said that they have realized that to achieve a peaceful solution to, the efforts and sincerity of the elected representatives towards bringing about settlement to the Naga issue was crucial, and the unity amongst them has to be paramount, so as to expedite and achieve the common goal of peaceful solution to the “Naga Political Issue”.

They also resolved that they will aim at promoting the Naga peace talks with a positive approach in the greater interest of achieving peace and move forward under a positive environment that is conducive towards finding a political solution at the earliest time possible.

Therefore, in light of the ongoing peace talks, they said that all the political parties, to this resolution, endorsed the concept of ‘United Government’ so as to facilitate the Naga political issue to achieve an honorable and acceptable solution.

Three parties formalise ‘United Govt’

EDITOR PICKS

Intention and contention

All TVs are targeting the opposition instead of criticizing the government. They call this freedom of the press