Leadership change in restive Nagaland: Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu all set to be chief minister

GUWAHATI: The Naga People's Front on Thursday elected NFP president Shürhozelie Liezietsu as its legislature party leader and asked chief minister TR Zeliang to step down in the ‘larger interest’ of the party, government and people.

However, Liezietsu denied he was taking over as CM.

“Reports of my becoming chief minister is nothing but a rumour. MLAs and ministers had met me on Wednesday, but Zeliang will continue to be the leader,” he told ET.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by 38 NPF MLAs. The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland has 48 NPF MLAs, apart from 4 BJP MLAs and 8 Independents. There is no Opposition in the 60-member House.

Liezietsu’s reluctance may be to ensure a smooth takeover. Zeliang, meanwhile, left for New Delhi to discuss the issue with top BJP leaders.

Governor PB Acharya has sent a report to the Centre. The Nagaland Tribes Action Committee agitating over the reservation of 33% seats in urban local bodies had made Zeliang’s resignation a precondition to end the 3-week stir which turned violent on several days.

It had given a Friday deadline to MLAs to withdraw support to Zeliang. NTAC had said that if the MLAs failed to do so, they would be barred from entering their constituencies for the next assembly elections due in 2018. NTAC had also said that its representatives would begin a fast unto death protest from Friday.