NPF Legislature Party members resolve to take action

Kohima, July 24 (MExN): The NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP) has condemned what it termed the “autocratic and dictatorial functioning” of NPF President Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü “under whose direction” 10 MLAs were suspended from the NPF party and 20 MLAs expelled.  

“The highly questionable acts” of the NPF President will “not be tolerated anymore and appropriate action will be initiated against him as deemed fit,” stated the NPFLP members in a list of resolutions released to the press today. The resolutions were made following a meeting at the State Banquet Hall earlier today that was presided over by TR Zeliang.  

Disgruntled, members of the NPFLP stated that while they have “more than the requisite number of MLAs to cause a split and merge with any political party,” it was “never the intention” of the MLAs to “break away from the NPF Party.”  

Resolutions

In their list of resolutions, the 36 members of the NPFLP explained that the people of Nagaland had elected 38 MLAs on NPF Party ticket during the 2013 General Election which constituted absolute majority in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, thereby mandating them to govern the affairs of the State for a term of 5 years. Besides 38 NPF MLAs, DAN Coalition Partners consisting four BJP MLAs, one JDU, one NCP and eight Independent MLAs formed an opposition-less Government in the State with eight Congress MLAs joining the NPF Party under the leadership of TR Zeliang. However “due to public pressure,” TR Zeliang had resigned from the office of the Chief Minister and installed Dr. Shürhozelie as the CM even though he was not an elected member.  

Further, they explained that TR Zeliang had resigned from the office of the CM; however, “he has never resigned nor vacated his post as Leader of DAN Legislature Party which was further reiterated by the DAN MLAs on February 20, 2017, and also as the Leader of the NPF Legislature Party on May 17, 2014. Even today, he commands the support of 47 MLAs in a House with an effective strength of 59 MLAs and accordingly, the Governor of Nagaland had on July 19 last administered the oath of office to TR Zeliang based on the provisions of the Indian Constitution.”  

The NPFLP members resolved that the people of Nagaland have mandated 47 NPF MLAs to govern the affairs of the State and “in no uncertain terms does Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu enjoys such mandate of the people though he may be the President of the NPF Party.”  

Based on these arguments, the NPFLP MLAs questioned the suspension and expulsion of MLAs from the NPF party without even a warning or show cause notice which, according to them, is “arbitrary” and not in line with the NPF party constitution.