DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today rubbished rumours that he and Lok Sabha MP, Neiphiu Rio are planning to merge with the BJP.
Speaking at the NPF CEC meeting today, the CM said that such rumours are propaganda created by the adversary to confuse the people. A press note from the CMO quoted the Chief Minister as stating that “if they were to merge with other party they have enough number of legislators, but they never had the intention to leave the NPF party.”
“We have decided to fight for cock symbol since inception. We will uphold the NPF party constitution, flag and its symbol and face the next election,” he said.
The CM further termed Dr. Shurhozielie’s NPF group to retain the party symbol “through threat and intimidation” as not acceptable. “Now the ball is in the court of Election Commission of India as to who should be allotted the cock symbol, no other court can decide,” he added.
“Those who walk with truth will reach their destinations” he stated, while urging the party men to remain truthful. The CM had earlier recounted the series of events that led to the dismissal of Dr. Shurhozielie Liezietsu’s government, and concluded that the Governor had not acted in contravention to the Constitution.
He further accused Dr. Shurhozielie of trying to remain in the chair by adopting “illegal means.” The differences within the party, he revealed, arose out of the former CM’s “willful style of functioning as a party president in total violation of the NPF party constitution.”
“The expulsion and suspension of the members in a dictatorial manner, willful amendment of party constitution to suit his action, random appointment of office bearers without any consultation, dissolution of party divisions and assembly constituency level units etc in an autocratic style were all in violation of the party constitution,” he stated. Further stating that the party president has no authority to appoint Whip on his own, Zeliang said that the Whip was never discussed in the CEC or in the working committee meeting.
“Moreover, nowhere in the NPF constitution makes a mention of the Whip, therefore, the issue of Whip as claimed by Dr. Shurhozielie’s group doesn’t make any sense,” he claimed.
