Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 6
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today submitted the resignation of the Council of Ministers headed by him to Nagaland’s Governor, PB Acharya. Addressing a press conference, Zeliang said he had decided to submit resignation of the Council of Ministers headed by him on two grounds.
Firstly, after coming to know the decision of the BJP severing ties with the NPF on Monday, Zeliang said he had proposed to the BJP leadership in separate communications on March 3, 2018- to know the stand of BJP pertaining to formation of coalition government as in the past 15 years.
“But after learning the decision of BJP severing ties with NPF, I have submitted the resignation to Governor today,” Zeliang stated.
The second reason, Zeliang stated was after confirming the position of the JD (U) and NPP that they have taken a U-turn from the agreement entered between NPF, NPP and JD (U).
Zeliang said during almost four years as chief minister, he had put his effort and the top priority was solution to the Naga political problem.
“We thought solution will come before election and that was the expectation of the people. I did my best to bring about solution before election. Even though we could not achieve, we have done our best,” Zeliang said.
The outgoing chief minister thanked all the organizations, including tribal hohos and the church leaders who extended their fullest cooperation to bring settlement to the Naga political problem, which he felt can only bring permanent peace in Nagaland.
He also assured that any matter pertaining to Naga political problem “in whatever position I am, I will extend my full cooperation towards resolution to Naga political problem.
“I did my best as chief minister and I will do my best as opposition leader wherever I am,” he said.
In the meantime, Zeliang assured the Naga people that “We will extend full support to the new government wherever the action of the government is in the larger interest of the Naga people apart from playing a constructive role of opposition in furthering the overall cause of the Nagas.”
He thanked the electorate of Nagaland “who have given a massive mandate in favour of the NPF making it the single largest party in the 13th House with 27 seats.”
Zeliang also expressed gratitude to the cabinet colleagues for their unflinching support and cooperation in both good and difficult times as well as in governance for the past 4 years. “For nearly one and a half decades, NPF had been in the service of the people of Nagaland since the year 2003,” he said.
Gov accepts resignation
PRO to the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya in a press release informed that the Governor has accepted the resignation submitted by Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Tuesday.
In a letter addressed to the Governor, the Chief Minister tendered resignation of the Council of Ministers headed by him. The Governor requested TR Zeliang to continue in office till an alternative arrangement was made, the press release stated.
Earlier, officials from the Election Commission of India along with the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, submitted the notification constituting the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly to the Governor of Nagaland, PB Acharya at Raj Bhavan Kohima. Thereafter the Governor dissolved the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the press release stated.
