Advisor ponders on by-polls and post of chief minister

Mokokchung, May 20 (EMN): The advisor to the chief minister of Nagaland on Saturday disclosed that the state’s government was currently in correspondence with the Election Commission of India to ‘clarify’ whether by-election was possible after the expiration of six months.

Advisor to Chief Minister Nuklutoshi was making the statement in relation to speculations about the post of the chief minister. Currently, Chief Minister Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu is not a member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

From the constitutional perspective, Article 164 (4) provides that a minister, who for a period of six consecutive months has not been a member of the legislature shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a minister.

Besides, conventionally by-elections are not conducted in states if less than a year of the respective state assembly’s tenure remains.

Nuklutoshi was interacting with the media during the sidelines of a meeting of Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF, Mokokchung division here. He asserted that if by-election is not conducted, ‘bestowing the leadership to a new contender is only the option.’

‘If by-election is not conducted, the DAN three government led by the NPF might see the swearing-in of a fourth chief minister in its tenure,’ Nuklutoshi asserted.

Replying to another query, the advisor disclosed that “prepone of forthcoming general election of the state is a long procedure and it is very narrow.”

On the formation of the DPP, Nuklutoshi said, “It might happen, some NPF legislature and individuals may leave but that will be replaced by fresh candidates and so far it will not affect the party.”

He observed that the NPF’s result during the 2018 elections will be ‘determined according to the distribution of the party tickets and most importantly the projection of the leadership.’

“The 12th NLA is the worst tenure, we couldn’t do anything because of the crises within the NPF family,” Nuklutoshi admitted.

On the Naga political problem, the advisor said that the government of India should ‘announce what the solution would be for the Nagas before the declaration of the forthcoming general elections of the state in 2018.’

When queried about why he was dropped from the ministry, he asserted that ‘in order to bring Mokokchung NPF to the mainstream he had to sacrifice for the party.’

Earlier during the meeting of the division’s in-charge encouraged the party workers to be ‘patient’ and ‘loyal’ to the party.