Dimapur, December 15 (MExN): Noting the ‘unseemly controversy’ over the Speaker not counting the votes of nine NPF members, the NPF has issued a statement explaining the procedures and proceedings on the same. The said nine NPF legislators are Hukavi Zhimomi, Nkhao Lotha, Kipili Sangtam, Hewoto Aomi, Tarie, Kihoto Hollohon, Kheto, Tokheho Yepthomi and T. Tali.
The party through its general secretary Akang Ao clarified: All members of the Legislative Assembly before they take seat in the House after their elections take oath in the name of God that they would uphold the Constitution which includes the Tenth Schedule. No member can violate the whip issued by his party and if he does so, he would be disqualified for defection. “The NPF Legislature party as on the 13th December, 2007 had 28 members and it would have needed two-thirds of the members meaning 19 members go against the whip. If only 19 members claim merger with another party and violate the NPF whip, they are protected from disqualification. The votes of these 9 members of the NPF who openly violated the party whip were thus not counted by the Speaker under his general direction issued by him way back on the 21st August, 2006” the NPF reminded. Also, generally in many legislatures, the speakers are not alert and therefore, the ‘miscreant’ members who do not measure up to two-thirds of the Legislature party, first vote against the whip, cause damage to the Government and then face disqualification, the NPF stated.
“But Mr. Kiyanilie Peseyie, one of the most democratic Speakers in the country, plugged this loophole and removed this mischief by his direction under the Anti-defection rules that such miscreant members’ votes will not only be counted but they are liable for disqualification later. That is how the votes of these 9 members were not counted by the Speaker” the party explained.
In the case of the three Independent members, they were once ministers in the DAN Government, and later parliamentary secretaries/Advisor. They attended NPF party meetings and signed the Roll of Attendance of NPF party members, and actively subscribed to the policies and programmes of the DAN Government, and who consistently voted in favor of the NPF party till 12th December, 2007. But they wrote to the Speaker that they would be withdrawing support to the DAN Government, and supporting the Congress, thereby incontrovertibly indicating that they have joined first the NPF and now the Congress, the NPF clarified.
“Dr. Shurhozelie therefore filed a petition for disqualification of the members and asked for an interim order restraining them from voting in the House. The Speaker being a democratic person passed an interim order restraining them from voting only on confidence and no-confidence motions and allowed them to participate and vote on all other items of business. It is the most reasonable order any Speaker would have passed” it added.
