Kohima/Dimapur, November 27 (MExN): Senior Cabinet Minister for Work and Housing Tokheho Yepthomi today resigned from the Council of Ministers in the NPF-led DAN government. Talking to media persons, he said that he had sent his resignation to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) this evening. On being queried whether he would be joining Congress, he said “So far there is no such arrangement”. Tokheho said that he had resigned from the Council of Ministers, but not from the NPF, saying “I am still NPF.”
Tokheho said that he had resigned from the DAN Ministry on grounds of the prevailing law and order situation, price hike in essential commodities and superannuation issue. Expressing his unhappiness over the law and order situation, he said that the responsibility of the government is to provide peace and security to the people.
He also said that the common people are suffering due to price hike in the essential commodities. He attributed the same to the callous attitude of the government towards checking of price hike.
On the superannuation issue, he argued the decision of the Cabinet to increase the retirement age of Government servant from 57 to 60 years was taken without considering merit and demerit. “I do not want to be a party to this,” Tokheho said while adding that the issue was not discussed thoroughly.
He said that the decision had benefited the government servants but deprived the 45,000 educated unemployed youths. He said that the government has to see welfare from both sides. Also maintaining that the DAN government has done a lot of development, he however said “Only development is not going to serve the public. I think we have to govern the state.”
In other related development, P Chuba Chang and Jongshilemba also tendered their resignations as parliamentary secretary under the DAN Government to the Chief Minister today. Chang cited big differences with NPF President and Minister for Planning Dr Shurhozelie Leizietsu.
Chang while informing about his resignation, said that NPF president Dr Shurhozelie had always sidelined and humiliated them and never considered them while in the DAN Government. “I am resigning because of Dr Shurhozelie,” said Chuba Chang. He said that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is a ‘very good person’; however he asserted that he cannot go where Dr Shurhozelie is going. “We don’t have anything against Rio,” declared Chuba Chang.
However, on being queried whether he is withdrawing his support from the DAN Government and resigning from the NPF party, Chuba Chang gave a mixed answer.
Chang first replied that he has resigned as a Parliamentary Secretary, but not from the NPF party. However, moments later he said, “Resigning from the Parliamentary Secretary is as good as withdrawing support to the DAN Government.” Chang said that he would be contesting from any party ticket.
Parliamentary Secretary, Jongshilemba, when contacted, said that he has resigned from the DAN Government and the post of Parliamentary Secretary mainly because he sees ‘no harmony and team work in the DAN Government’. He refused to divulge abut his future political plans. “Now I am no NPF, no Congress, and no political party.”
Jongshilemba lamented that after serving in the DAN Government for so long, still there lacks harmony and team work, and so with the assembly elections knocking at the door, he said that he has to move out and make strategy to contest in the next election.
Meanwhile, a close confidant of another senior Parliamentary Secretary in the DAN Government, on condition of anonymity divulged that more legislators are waiting to come out of the DAN Government. He claimed that 13 to 14 legislators are already planning to move out and join the Congress party. About the fate of Neiphiu Rio, he said that the Chief Minister is also planning to join the Congress party, but the Congress is unwilling to take him back.
The source, disclosed that the main reason for the dissatisfaction among the DAN legislators is because of the issue of ‘one person one post’ which the legislators want but which has been opposed by NPF leader Dr Shurhozelie. The source disclosed that the DAN Government, though it is a coalition government, Dr Shurhozelie is ‘exercising the power over all the party’. It may be mentioned that speculations is going on about a major rift in the DAN Government though the NPF leaders in particular have been denying it.
