NPF president Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu seek to dismiss rumours
Morung Express News
Kohima | May 23
Naga People’s Front (NPF) President, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Monday sought to dismiss ‘persisting’ rumors doing the round that the ongoing ‘crisis’ in the NPF camp was the outcome of power tussle between him and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio.
“I have no ill feeling or grudge against him (Rio) and also I think no one was having any animosity against him,” Dr Liezietsu maintained while addressing a press conference at the NPF Central Office after a conference with office bearers of the 11th Northern Angami II party, which is Rio’s constituency.
The main objective of the conference was to brief and clear the confusion arising out of the suspension of Neiphiu Rio, Dr Shurhozelie said.
Rio was suspended from primary and active membership of the NPF on May 17, 2016 for alleged anti-party activities. Both Dr Shurhozelie and Rio are senior leaders and front-runners of the NPF party and credited for bringing the regional party to power by ousting the Congress.
Rio, had however denied the charges against him in his reply to the show cause notice served to him, even asking for withdrawal of the same.
Pointing out that the decision to suspend Rio was taken by the Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) of the NPF, Dr Shurhozelie asserted, “I am only protecting the Constitution of the Party.”
Dr Liezietsu also reiterated that Rio will continue as Lok Sabha MP and he therefore will have to follow the directives of the party. Without naming any, he however hinted that, “Sooner or later they are going to form a new party. We cannot stop them also.”
Meanwhile commenting on NPF’s prospects at the 2018 general election, Dr Liezietsu said the party was still expecting some kind of solution from the ongoing political negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) before the election. “We still believe that the NSCN (IM) group is doing their best while trying to hammer out a solution,” he said.
“In the event nothing comes out from the ongoing political negotiations before the coming State General elections, then we as a political party will be prepared to face the elections,” he said.
Also remarking on Manipur election, Dr Liezietsu predicted that Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh might not be coming to power in the 2017 assembly election. He said that BJP will do well in valley and NPF will get at least 14/15 seat out of 20 in the hill areas. There will be coalition government in Manipur next time, he predicted.
Dr Liezietsu also informed that Chief Minister TR Zeliang and Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye would be attending the swearing –in –ceremony of the new government in Assam where Sarbananda Sonowal will take oath as Assam Chief Minister on Tuesday in Guwahati.
