Status quo to remain
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 2
There will be no changes in the seating arrangement for the Eighth Session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly starting August 3, sources informed. The two-day session is scheduled on August 3 and 5.
Concerns regarding the seating arrangements gained traction since the opposition Naga People’s Front’s proposal to join ruling the Peoples’ Democratic Alliance (PDA) Government on July 19 for an ‘all-party Government’ basically rendering it to an ‘opposition-less Government.’
Facilitation of the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process was cited one of the main reasons behind the move.
The seating arrangement of NPF members will be the same as before and the former Chief Minister TR Zeliang will still retain the Leader of Opposition status in the upcoming session, official sources at the NLA Secretariat told The Morung Express on the eve of the Eighth Session.
We have not received any communication for changes, an official informed on Monday morning. No change as of now and the status quo remains, the official replied, when updated in the evening.
Usually, an Assembly is divided into Treasury Benches – occupied by the members of the State Government and the Opposition benches.
While the ruling Nagaland’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has welcomed the move; its partner in the PDA, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), reportedly, is still waiting for a response from the central leadership.
Meanwhile, as per the List of Business on Day-I, apart from the usual Obituary References, Questions, Reporting on Assent to Bills, Laying of Reports and Bills, and Introduction of Government Bills, the Naga Political Issue would be discussed as ‘Matters of Urgent Public Importance.’
Neiba Kronu, Minister of Planning & Co-ordination, Parliamentary Affairs, & Land Revenue is scheduled to initiate the discussion in the Assembly.
