Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 19
The Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) has rejected TR Zeliang as the Chief Minister of Nagaland State. In a press conference convened at the ASTD office here today, its President said that Zeliang had been made to step down on moral grounds by the Naga people and the ASTD honours that sentiment.
“Even the graves of the persons who were killed in the great Naga movement due to the deliberate betrayal of the Naga public by TR Zeliang and his cronies have not yet been constructed. The wounds of those injured are still fresh. We cannot accept him as the CM. Any MLA except TR Zeliang can be CM,” stressed the ASTD President. This was decided at an ASTD emergency executive meeting held earlier on Wednesday after TR Zeliang was sworn in as the 19th Chief Minister of Nagaland State.
The ASTD had not anticipated that TR Zeliang could come back to the position during this term even as a judicial inquiry is underway into the incidents that unfurled before elections to the Urban Local Bodies earlier this year. The elections were later called off.
“TR Zeliang can come back after new election and a fresh mandate, but not now,” the ASTD reiterated. It also expressed dissatisfaction with the Ao legislators who are in support of Zeliang. The ASTD hoped that the JCC and NTAC will come on board with its decision.
