Noke, Imkong L Imchen suspended from NPF

Principal Correspondent Kohima, January 10 The ruling NPF has suspended two more of its legislators, including PHE minister Noke Wangnao and MLA Imkong L Imchen, of the dissident group led by G Kaito Aye from the primary and active membership of the party with immediate effect until further orders. This was announced by party president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu at a press conference held at the Party Central Office here Saturday evening. The NPF supremo said the two members of the State Assembly are not members of the NPF which is the dominant partner of the DAN-III government currently in saddle in the State. Veteran regionalist Noke Wangnao and MLA Imkong L Imchen have been suspended from the party for anti-party activities, Dr Shürhozelie said. With the suspension of the two, the number of suspended members within NPF party has gone upto nine. Noke resigned as PHE minister on Friday to support dissident leader Kaito Aye. Minister for Industries and Commerce G Kaito Aye and Minister for Roads and Bridges Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu along with five parliamentary secretaries were suspended by the party president on January 5 after they along with some other members of NPF openly rebelled against the incumbent Chief Minister TR Zeliang. The NPF president maintained that after election of then Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to the Lok in May 2014 polls, the current Chief Minister TR Zeliang was unanimously chosen to lead the State and all members of the party, as per the provisions of the Constitution of the NPF, ought to repose utmost trust in him for the continued success of the party and the government. He said the two suspended legislators have by their actions of associating themselves with detractors and deviators of the party’s goals and objectives of providing good and stable governance to the people of Nagaland, committed serious breach of discipline of the NPF as enshrined in the constitution of the party. He alleged that they have been sabotaging the leadership of TR Zeliang in whom the NPF party has placed utmost confidence and trust to lead the government in the State and also have been conspiring to overawe and overthrow the legitimate government in the State. He also notified that they will have no participatory or voting rights in all political/legislature party forums, except voting rights on the floor of the Assembly in accordance with party whip. In the wake of a rebellion within the ruling NPF, Zeliang had yesterday claimed majority in the House and sought a "vote of confidence" in the state Assembly.