NPF Kohima Division Annual General Conference

Present political crisis a replica of 2015: Dr. Shürhozelie

Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 31

Naga People’s Front (NPF) President and former Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu today termed the present NPF crisis a replica of the 2015 crisis when majority of the NPF MLAs camped at Sovima and revolted against the party for 116 days. Addressing a mammoth gathering of NPF workers at the annual general conference of NPF Kohima Division here at the State Academy Hall, Dr. Liezietsu said that dissident MLAs during 2015 had revolted against the NPF and elected their own president, set up their office bearers etc.

“They had then criticized the party and tried to claim the party with all their might and power but had failed,” he said and added that finally failing to claim the party they went up to the Election Commission of India to freeze the Cock symbol. He said that “the present crisis is nothing new but a repetition of 2015 episode” and urged the people not to be confused with whatever statements the other group issues contending “it is simply to confuse the people.” Though we have minority MLAs, the party is with us, he said and sought to instill confidence in the party workers. “The party does not belong to the legislators but the legislators belong to the party,” he insisted.

Dr. Liezietsu also reiterated that the NPF party is deeply rooted with the Naga people and “the founders formed this party for the cause of the peaceful solution to the Naga political issue and for the welfare of the Naga people, and so we cannot afford to hand over the party to the people who only believe their might and power can control the whole system.”

On the issue of the Whip, Dr. Liezietsu said that it is “clearly written in the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution that the party Whip is appointed by the political party and not by the legislators or the Legislature wing of the party.” Accordingly, the NPF party had appointed MLA Kiyanilie Peseyie as the official whip in 2014 and so far, the party has not authorized or assigned any other MLA to be the party whip as Kiyanilie's tenure as whip will expire only in March 2018, he said. “Dissident MLAs appointing TR Zeliang as the Whip can never be recognized by any court of the law and soon appropriate judgement will be delivered by the court,” he said.

“In between the pronouncement of the court judgment, the rebel MLAs will try to confuse the people and lure party workers,” he said while adding, “however, any party workers who left for the dissident group will automatically detach themselves from the NPF.” DAN chairman and NPF Legislature Party leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu maintained that Dr. Shürhozelie is the only legitimate president of the NPF party till 2020.

“Time will tell us how long the TR Government will last,” the DAN Chairman said adding, “within a short period justice will prevail.” Questioning why TR and Rio did not merge with other political parties or nurture the infant DPP, Azo called on the two leaders to leave the NPF alone and run the government for the welfare of the people. Ex-minister and NPD CEC member Thenucho Tunyi, who also spoke on the occasion, said many regional parties have come and gone but “ours is the only one that has survived and still stands strong.” Truth will always conquer, he added.

Also speaking on the occasion, NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon asserted that “the dissident group can fool somebody sometimes but cannot fool all the people all the time.” On the whip issue, Achumbemo said that TR Zeliang himself “admitted in the affidavit submitted to the Court the other day that a whip is appointed by the political party. The dissident group has no other weapon to confuse the people but only to delay the hearing of the court and run the government for the time being.” Ex-MLA Asu Keyho also spoke at the conference. The meeting also came out with three point resolutions. RESOLUTIONS

1. The Division notes with immense satisfaction the vindication of the stand Naga People’s Front vis-à-vis the undue and questionable haste with which the Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya intervened into an internal affair of the NPF by taking it onto the floor of the Assembly, when the Governor of Tamil Nadu yesterday (30th August 2017) refrained from interfering into the case of the 19 AIADMK MLAs after they withdrew their support to the Chief Minister EdappadiPalaniswamy, on the ground that the rebel MLAs were still members of the AIADMK. Nagaland Governor should realise the folly of his action in installing the unconstitutional TR Zeliang Government and immediately submit his resignation before he is further embarrassed, or he does more damage to the hallowed Constitutional and parliamentary norms and procedures.

2. The Kohima Division condemns the biased, unfair and blatant act of the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly who, instead of acting according to the laws of the land, went out of his way to favour his brother in law TR Zeliang by accepting him as the Chief Whip of the very political party he was expelled from. The Speaker should apologise for his dubious actions, retract his moves if possible, hang his head in shame and stay away from politics for the rest of his life.

3. Resolve to appeal to all rank and file of the NPF to remain steadfast behind the leadership of Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu and also remind the functionaries that the present moves by the expelled and suspended NPF functionaries and legislators are a repeat of what the dissidents did in 2015 when majority of the legislators sided with Neiphiu Rio and gang but had to return to the party fold when pointed out to them that majority of the party CEC and active and primary members decide the fate of the political party.