From left: DMC Deputy Chairperson Imlinaro Stephanie Ezung, Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Zhaleo Rio, IAS (Retd.) and DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi.
Trust Vote called off as NPF councillors reconcile
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 20
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) councillors of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) on Wednesday called off a trust vote scheduled for May 22, announcing an “unconditional decision to reconcile” brokered by the party’s top leadership, ending a political crisis that had gripped Nagaland’s commercial capital for nearly two weeks.
DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi and Deputy Chairperson Imlinaro Stephanie Ezung issued a joint statement on Wednesday informing of the unconditional reconciliation of their differences and misunderstandings in the greater interest of the unity of the party and in the interest of their commitment to serve the public and the citizens of Dimapur city.
Stating that the NPF councillors had resolved their differences and formally communicated to the concerned authorities to cancel the floor test, the statement said, “Since all members have reconciled and agreed to work together as one united team, there is now no need to carry out any trust vote.”
The development comes after a no-confidence motion was filed against Chairperson Yepthomi on May 11 by 12 councillors, six from the NPF led by Deputy Chairperson Ezung, and six from the BJP led by councillor Kuhoi Zhimo. Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang, had subsequently convened a special meeting for May 22 to determine whether Yepthomi retained majority support in the 23-ward council.
The crisis had deepened on May 16 when the NPF’s Dimapur division issued show-cause notices to the six NPF councillors, accusing them of acting “in connivance with other political parties” against the party’s own leadership without authorisation from the competent party authority.
The joint statement credited NPF President and Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio's intervention as decisive in securing the reconciliation, with the councillors expressing appreciation for his “visionary leadership” and guidance on unity and oneness.
“We accept the guidance for unity, reconciliation and oneness and remain committed to serve the public to who we have given our solemn commitments before seeking their mandate.,” the statement read.
The two camps had been separately camping outside the state, the dissenting councillors at a resort in Guwahati and Yepthomi’s loyalists at a hotel in Chümoukedima, ahead of the scheduled floor test.
The NPF councillors also reiterated their commitment to “good governance, accountability and transparency” in the functioning of the DMC and appealed to all sections of the people and stakeholders to extend “support and solidarity towards achieving” collective goals of the all-round development of Dimapur city.
The statement was jointly signed by DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi and Deputy Chairperson Imlinaro Stephanie Ezung.
