NPF tussle: Rio tenders resignation from party president

Cites lack of trust in Zeliang; declare support to Liezietsu as NPF president
Says Zeliang had led yet another signature campaign behind his back

Dimapur, Dec. 8 (EMN): Continuing with the spectacle in the political circles of the state, especially of the ruling Nagaland Peoples’ Front (NPF) party, Neiphiu Rio on Friday resigned from the post of the party president citing lack of trust in sitting Chief Minister TR Zeliang, and decided to support Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu as the party president.
In his resignation letter to the chief minister, Rio alleged that Zeliang had started a signature campaign behind his back to return to the group led by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu. In reality it was the legislators, including the chief minister, who had made him the NPF president, he stated.
“Now, you have led a signature campaign to go back to Dr. Shurhozelie and remove me as the president. As stated, I took over the presidentship on the demand of the MLAs and party leaders under your leadership and your request.
“Therefore, if you were of the opinion that I am no longer required, then it should have been informed to me and I would have willingly resigned, as I only took up the responsibility due to the request of you and your colleagues. It was not necessary to carry out a signature campaign behind my back.
“Therefore, since you and your colleagues have decided to withdraw your support to my presidentship, I hereby resign as NPF president in support of Dr. Shurhozelie’s presidentship, with immediate effect,” stated Rio in the letter.
Rio also informed that his decision will be duly notified to the Election Commission of India, while thanking those who had supported him.
“I thank all the people who have supported me and I remain indebted to all my well wishers. I will continue to serve the people and the state with full commitment and dedication.”
Rio reminded the manner in which he was made the party president after TR Zeliang had ‘misunderstandings and conflict’ with the former chief minister and the then NPF President Dr. Shurhozelie and how Zeliang had approached him in his ‘desire to reclaim the chair of chief minister.’
Thereby, Rio claimed that with his ‘full-fledged support’ to Zeliang’s leadership they were successful due to the ‘trust and confidence’ by the majority of the legislators.
“As a result, on 19th July, 2017, you were sworn in as chief minister,” Rio reminded Zeliang.
“I attended a meeting of legislators at the State Banquet Hall wherein I was compelled to take up the responsibility of Interim President of the NPF. Much against my wishes, the honourable MLAs and yourself included, pressured me to accept the presidentship even though I had clearly voiced my reluctance to be elected as interim president.
“However, since the whole House was unanimous that I be elected as interim president, I humbly accepted the imposed responsibility and subsequently in the NPF General Convention held on 20th September, 2017, at Dimapur, I was formally elected as the NPF president.
“The overwhelming majority of honourable MLAs, led by you, and the CEC members participated in the General Convention and we submitted our claim for the party symbol to the Election Commission of India”, he further recounted.