We are still holding the fort here, insists CM Shurhozelie

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 15

The ongoing political crisis in the state showed no sign of abatement on Saturday with the Chief Minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu rejecting the second directive from the Governor PB Acharya to hold a floor test in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.  

In an interview to ANI News Agency on July 15, the Chief Minister reportedly maintained that “the government is going strong and there is no point to go on floor test.”  

“Politics is a numbers’ game, I know that I have less numbers, but I am holding the fort. If no confidence motion is tabled against me, there is no point going to the floor. This is my strength and I will continue with this. I have all the party with me and the government is going strong,” Dr. Shürhozelie was quoted as saying by ANI.  

The Chief Minister also admitted that the current political crisis is shameful. “It’s shameful, how people outside of Nagaland look up to us. I am running the offices normally,” the report added.  

Referring to the dissidents MLAs who were camping in Kaziranga as “the prodigal sons,” Dr. Shürhozelie further told the Agency that, “They have run away from home, parents. They are staying in Assam and can’t claim government from there.”  

“If they really want to discuss the problems, they should come and discuss with me. From a distance, if they claim the government, we will not agree to it,” the Chief Minister insisted.  

The latest development came a day after the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court, on July 14, give a brief respite to the incumbent Chief Minister by staying the Governor’s directive for a floor test till the matter come up for hearing on July 17.  

The writ petition was filed by Dr. Shürhozelie before the court after the Governor, for the second time in the three days, directed the Chief Minister to prove majority on the floor of Assembly on July 13.  

In the writ petition, the Chief Minister argued that Governor’s directive was “ex facie unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and violative of the basic features of the Constitution.”  

In his second directive, Acharya had stated that he was “prima facie convinced” that former CM Zeliang enjoys “majority support.”