Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 12
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker today asked the Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu to take a call on the Governor PB Acharya’s direction to prove his majority in the Assembly by July 15.
“Kindly take a call in the matter in consultation the Governor without involving the Office of the Speaker,” stated a letter from the NLA Speaker Dr. Imtiwapang to the Chief Minister.
The letter assumes significance as it comes a day after the Chief Minister turned down the Governor’s directive for a floor test before July 15.
The Chief Minister’s response routed through NLA Speaker, cited previous legal precedence, and argued that “The Supreme Court has clearly laid down that the Governor has no authority on his own to summon, prorogue or dissolve the Legislative Assembly.”
“He can only do so on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister,” he had stated.
The same evening, the State Cabinet also resolved that “there is no justification for summoning an emergency session of the Assembly to discuss or to resolve the internal affairs of the NPF party.”
However, in the letter, the Speaker said that the Governor’s summon was according to the “constitutional provisions” and was issued as there have been a claim by TR Zeliang that Dr. Shürhozelie’s Ministry “has been reduced to minority.”
“In view of the above, we have made the proposal and put up to you on July 11,” the Speaker added.
It further asked the Chief Minister kept out Office of the Speaker in the current issue as it was needed to be “kept above the partisan ends.”
With the support of 44 MLAs, TR Zeliang on Sunday has staked claim to form the government.
