KOHIMA, JUNE 2 (MExN): Despite the 10 NPF legislators reaffirming their support to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday, the two dissidents and suspended NPF MLAs, Z Obed and K Therie are still hell bent on their claim to form the ‘alternative government under the leadership of Z Obed’.
The two MLAs met the State Governor K Sankaranarayanan today at 11: 30 am at Raj Bhavan to stage claim to form the government. However, the latter appears to have given a cold response stating that he will examine the whole issue.
Their aim, they said is change of leadership or change of guard within the party and then in the DAN government said Therie.
The two dissident MLAs talking to a section of the press after meeting the Governor claimed that the 16 NPF MLAs out of the 31, excluding the Speaker, are still with them. And with the support of the other political party’s MLAs and Independents they have the support of 22 MLAs, said K Therie.
“It is true that the signatures were undated by themselves and left with me, to be used at an appropriate time. This being the case, on what basis is they alleging that they were under duress?” Z Obed queried in a rejoinder to the NPF letter.
Obed went on to add that he had at no point of time desired to be a leader. It is the 10 MLAs along with others, who asked him to take responsibility of leadership and perform duties, Obed also stated, adding that he had no knowledge that the latter have retracted their signature from him.
They also said at no point of time the 10 NPF MLAs had withdrawn their signatures
“We expect Rio to resign honourably, but he didn’t do it so we have to stage claim to form the alternative government”, Therie said, adding that the DAN government has no moral standing anymore. The two also went on to caution the possibility of horse-trading.
Meanwhile, NPF General Secretary and Spokesperson Akang Ao while responding to the claim of Obed that “he has been elected as leader by some MLAs whose undated signatures were to be used by him at appropriate time”, stated that this showed his craze for manipulation of documents obtained under duress for his self-interests.
The NPF Spokesperson stated that it was strange that in a democratic system, one MLA is speaking about majority for him while his supporters have long back retracted their signatures obtained under duress. While stating that 23 MLAs of the NPF turned up at the meeting held today at the CMs residence and showed support to the Chief Minister, “the claimant to the leadership Z. Obed could have only the support of the other suspended NPF MLAs Mr K Therie, Mr Vatsu Meru and Mr T. Tali. Mr Kihoto Hollohon and Mr Yeangphong, NPF MLAs were conspicuous by their absence”, the NPF Spokesperson stated.
The NPF General Secretary further went on to add that Obed, a former Chief Secretary, is totally unaware of the aim and object of the Supreme Court’s judgment in SR Bommai’s case wherein the apex court has come down heavily on Raj Bhavans being used for government making. “Legislatures should be the right forum for government making”, the spokesperson quoted the apex court judgment. The NPF also stated that it was uncharitable for Obed after having failed to rope in those 10 MLAs, to call them as habitual defectors.
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