Principal Correspondent
Kohima, February 4
The Election Commission of India (ECI) today refrained from issuing any interim direction recognizing either of the parties as original NPF party (Noke or Shürhozelie). An order signed by ECI secretary Varinder Kumar, which was made available to the media tonight, stated that the Commission has considered the case of dispute in the party (NPF) has been raised before the Commission under the symbols order with two rival groups claiming to be the original party.
Kumar said that the Commission has issued notice to the two groups to file reply/written statement to the application/communication filed by the rival group latest by February 16, 2015.
“The Commission has considered the matter,” he said adding that the Commission is seized of the dispute in the Party and the Commission has already initiated the process of enquiry in the matter.
Expressing that both the parties have been given time till February 16 to submit their respective written submission and supporting documents, he said, therefore ‘no interim direction recognizing either of the parties as the NPF under the symbols order or any person as its president can be given at this stage.
Kumar also maintained that the matter of recognizing any person as the chief whip of the party is not covered under the provisions of the symbols order for the Commission to issue any instructions in this regard.
Therefore, the ECI secretary said “interim directions on these issues as sought in the applications cannot be given (Noke led NPF in its application to ECI had stated that “Kuzholuzo who has been appointed as the Chief Whip of the NPF by Wangnao alone should be allowed to carry out the functions of Chief Whip of the party).
However, the ECI informed that till the time the dispute case is decided by the Commission, it “will not take cognizance of any disciplinary action against any member of the Party either of parties to the dispute”.
NLA trial of strength today
The special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly summoned by Governor P B Acharya for ‘trial of strength’ will be held on Thursday at 9:30 am in the Assembly Hall here.
The session would commence with the Governor’s address followed by moving of motion of confidence by Chief Minister TR Zeliang.
Subsequently, the 59 members, excluding the Speaker would vote to decide whether they have confident upon the present Leader of the House or not.
The session assumes significance as this would address the prevailing political situation, which has been going on for the last one-month following the open rebellion of 22 NPF legislators.
