Kohima, August 25 (MExN): President of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and former Chief Minister of Nagaland, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu today said the NPF will opt for younger generation as party candidates in the coming general elections.
Addressing a meeting of the Central Executive Council (CEC), the highest decision-making body of the regional party, Dr Shürhozelie said NPF is a “party deeply rooted with the Naga society at all levels” and the party cannot be handed over to “political tourists who are professional defectors moving from place to place for comfort and enjoyment.” He emphasized that habitual defectors will be weeded out.
Recalling the turn of events, he alleged that the dissident group originally planned to dismiss his government, place men of their choice in position and “hijack the whole party to BJP to copy the Arunachal Pradesh drama,” informed a press release from Media & Press Bureau, NPF Central HQ, Kohima.
On the prospects of the 36 dissident legislators against whom disqualification petitions have been filed in the Speaker’s court, Dr. Shürhozelie said they would have to find “a landing ground” if they want to contest the next elections and that they would have “no choice but to land anywhere where their collective leadership asks them to land.”
Regarding the issue of the Whip in Nagaland Assembly, he expressed surprise how the Assembly Secretariat could issue notification on appointment of TR Zeliang as the Whip on July 19, 2017 merely “based on the information given to the Speaker by the legislators.”
Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister stated the Speaker “giving recognition to the illegal appointment of TR Zeliang as the Whip on mere information given by the dissident legislators is a total violation of rules.”
The Speaker has “desecrated the high office of the Hon’ble Speaker which will remain a black mark in the history of Nagaland Legislative Assembly and will have negative impact on his political career,” he said.
Also participating in the discussion, Huskha Yepthomi, NPF Working President reminded the party leaders not to forget the pioneers whose intention to form the regional NPF party was “to safeguard the principle of peace and welfare of the Naga people” and that leaders should contribute their best to the ideology behind the party for the Naga people and stand firm in their convictions. He encouraged stating even though the dissident group has more MLAs, when it comes to party matter they have no future.
MLA Yitachu in his speech maintained that even if all the MLAs desert from the party and join the government as long as the party is intact no force or power can snatch away the party. “Dissidents talking about to take over the party is like a wild dream,” he added. The MLA also assured the party is “functioning smoothly according to the constitution and the party has nothing to be afraid.”
Another MLA, CL John said true and dedicated NPF party men and women were intact, whereas the “readymade power seekers were in the dissident group.”
MLA Vikheho Swu lauded the CEC members for remaining firm and stated that no force can divide or snatch the party if the members remain united and steadfast. “Together we will restore the normalcy to the party and work for the Naga people,” Swu asserted.
Today’s meeting was attended by 112 CEC members with few legislators and party functionaries out of station. There are 172 CEC members, out of which, some have been suspended and terminated due to non attendance of CEC meetings and failure to renew their party membership, according to the release.
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