Dimapur, May 23 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has expressed shock that KL Chishi, a former chief minister of Nagaland, has blamed him for the latter’s electoral defeat. A news report containing the allegation by Chishi appeared in one of the local newspapers on Friday.
A press release from the media cell of the chief minister’s office stated that Rio always had high regard for Chishi and was disheartened at being blamed for his electoral defeat, ‘which is not fair.’
“Mr. KL Chishi’s false allegation that Mr. Rio had financed the NPF candidate against him in 32 Atoizu assembly constituency holds no truth. The chief minister did not assist the NPF candidate with even a single rupee nor did he meet with the NPF candidate. The NDPP and BJP fought on a common platform and the joint effort had nothing to do with the NPF, whoever might be the informer of Mr. K L Chishi, has his calculations wrong, and the intention is definitely ill-motivated,” it stated.
In 1990, it reminded, Rio was a first time MLA and one of the junior members of the House and of the ministry. Chishi is well aware of the nature in which his government was toppled, it added.
“The fact of the matter is that the seniors had betrayed him and that is the reason why the government led by Mr. K.L. Chishi could not survive...The allegation is shocking and for a senior leader, who is also a former chief minister, it is perhaps unbecoming to make such wild allegations without any justification or authentic proof.”
