Stop backing TR Zeliang: Naga People’s Front faction to 35 MLAs

GUWAHATI: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) faction under former chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu has reached out to the 35 rebel MLAs who voted for chief minister TR Zeliang during the floor test, telling them to return to the party fold by August 5.

In a calling notice to the MLAs, the Liezietsu-led NPF faction said: “As per paragraph 2(1) (b) of the tenth schedule of the Indian constitution, NPF as a political party has the power to condone the action of the NPF MLAs who defied the party whip on the floor of the house on July 21, 2017. It is crystal clear under the schedule that the party has the power to condone (forgive) within 15 days.”

“This is the last and final call to all the NPF legislators who defied the party whip issued by Kiyanilie Peseyie, the chief whip of NPF on July 21, 2017 (floor test) to withdraw support from Zeliang ministry and come back to party fold on or before August 5, midnight,” the notice said.

It also warned that non-compliance of this calling notice would compel the party to file disqualification petition against the MLAs. In the meantime, Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang, along with the 35 MLAs, have served a 15-day ultimatum on Liezietsu to step down as NPF president, saying his continuance as party chief would “invite further destruction and dismemberment” of the organisation at various hierarchies.

The MLAs have also “unanimously selected” former chief minister and current Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio as the interim president of NPF.