Kohima, August 21 (MExN): The NPF led by Neiphiu Rio today reiterated on the party whip issue.
In a rejoinder to the Media and Press Bureau (M&PB) of Shürhozelie-led NPF today, Press & Information Cell of Rio’s NPF stated that TR Zeliang, leader of the Legislature Party since May, 2014, was authorized by a majority of 34 NPF MLAs on July 4, which was further supported by 3 more NPF MLAs, to function as whip of the NPF party. This was communicated to the Speaker after which, the Commissioner and Secretary of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly notified the appointment of TR Zeliang as whip of NPF party vide Notification No. AS-LEG-91/2003, Dated 19th July, 2017.
“In the light of the above, the 10 NPF MLAs who were absent from the proceedings of the House on July 19 and further violated the NPF Whip issued by TR Zeliang, Whip of NPF and Chief Minister on July 21, are liable to be disqualified by the Speaker. As such, no amount of statements released in the public domain will change the course of law and its implication. We truly agree that the law is mightier than the pen,” it added.
The rejoinder maintained that a whip can be appointed under paragraph 2(1) (b) of the Tenth Schedule “in accordance with express provisions in the NPF Party Constitution and if, there is no express provision in the NPF Party Constitution, the thumb rule of Democracy which is the decision of the majority must prevail.”
Meanwhile, it asserted the “patience and silence” of the Chief Minister’s Office against “false and derogatory accusations” repeatedly raised in the media by M&PB “must not be mistaken for weakness because every provocation adds fuel to the fire and pushes resolution further away.”
