He’s back! TR sworn in as 19th CM

• Shurhozelie fails to turn up for NLA floor test

• Governor dismisses Shurhozelie government

• TR Zeliang says he will prove majority on July 21

Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kohima | July 19  

TR Zeliang has been appointed as the 19th Chief Minister of Nagaland State, after Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya dismissed Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu from the CM’s post today.  

This is the second time Zeliang will be the Chief Minister after he resigned on February 19, following protests by civil society groups opposed to his move to hold civic polls with 33 per cent seats reserved for women.  

Liezietsu had failed to turn up for an emergent NLA session on July 19 to take a vote of confidence.  

This was informed in a press statement from the PRO to the Governor, which also said that Dr Liezietsu had failed to turn up for the floor test in the house “despite being given repeated opportunities.”  

“As per report of the Speaker, 48 MLAs including the Speaker were present in the Assembly but Dr Shurhozelie and 11 others were conspicuously absent,” the Governor’s statement informed.  

Zeliang took the oath of office and secrecy again today at a function held at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima. Meanwhile, the Governor has asked the newly appointed CM to prove his majority in the floor of the House on or before July 22.  

Zeliang was invited to the Raj Bhavan, after the NLA Speaker reported to the Governor that Dr Liezietsu had failed to turn up for the floor test. Consequent to receiving the Governor’s invitation, TR Zeliang in a letter of his own accepted the Governor’s invite. He further agreed to prove that he has majority support in the NLA on July 21. Speaking to the media after his swearing in, CM TR Zeliang said he would provide a stable government.  

“We have absolute majority. NPF alone have more than two thirds majority and BJP have extended support and independent as well. There is no reason why we cannot have a stable government. We will provide stable government,” he said.  

Asked about distribution of portfolios, Zeliang informed that this would be done only after the floor test. On political unrest in the state since July 7, he said that everything will come to conclusion now. “Democratically, politically and legally we are on the right side and nothing will go wrong,” he said.  

Regarding his expulsion for a period of six years from NPF, Zeliang said that it does not affect membership inside the House and so would not be a problem.  

On being asked how he would convince the public, given that there was massive turmoil in the last days of his previous tenure as CM, Zeliang said: “we will discuss with the tribal hohos and all the organizations and we will do only what is best for the people.”  

The Governor, in a separate order had earlier dismissed Dr Liezietsu, stating that the latter’s failure to turn up for the floor test in the NLA on June 19 made clear that he “has failed to obtain vote of confidence despite repeated opportunities given for the same.”  

The Governor reminded that he had requested Dr Liezietsu to take a vote of confidence in the state assembly in letters dated July 11 and 13. To this, the then CM had approached the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court petitioning against the Governor’s directive.  

The High Court on June 18 however dismissed the petition and held that the Governor’s directive was justified. Thereafter a special emergent session of the NLA was summoned on July 19.  

Liezietsu, 80, was made to come out of retirement from electoral politics to take over as Chief Minister following Zeliang’s resignation in February.  

An IANS report quoted Yitachu, spokesperson for Dr Liezietsu’s group as stating: “No time (for the floor test) was given to us. How can we attend the Assembly session when most of us are not even in Kohima, and that too the Assembly session was summoned at midnight (Tuesday night).”  

“We don’t understand the urgency of summoning the Assembly session since the ongoing political development is an internal matter within the NPF party and the matter should be resolved outside the House,” the report further quoted him as saying.  

Meanwhile, Tokheho Yepthomi, spokesperson for Zeliang’s group told IANS that Liezietsu should have gracefully stepped down rather than refusing to prove his majority in the House.