Governor accepts resignation, asked to continue as caretaker
[caption id="attachment_99127" align="alignnone" width="560"]
Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang hands over a copy of a letter stating his resignation to the Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya, seen to the left, in Kohima on Sunday, February 19. The text on the token letter reads: ‘I hereby tender my resignation from the office of Chief Minister, Nagaland, along with the Council of Ministers of Nagaland with immediate effect.’[/caption]
Dimapur, Feb. 19: Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang has resigned with his Council of Ministers. The resignation follows a tumultuous tenure of a little more than two years that was capped off by violent agitations from community organisations over the now-nullified municipal polls.
The tenth chief minister of Nagaland put in his resignation letter to Governor PB Acharya on Sunday, February 19.
The governor has accepted Zeliang’s resignation, a separate, official press release, also informed on Sunday.
“I, Shri T.R. Zeliang, chief minister, Nagaland have decided to step down from office,” a copy of a brief resignation letter was received here from the NPF leader.
To select a new ‘consensus leader’ to succeed him, Zeliang has convened an emergency meeting of the Naga People’ Front (NPF) Legislature Party at 10:00 AM tomorrow, February 20 in the State Banquet Hall.
It will be followed by a meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Legislature Party at 11:00 AM at the same venue, the letter stated.
All members of two said groups are requested to attend the meeting “so as to select a consensus leader to ensure smooth transition of office and to provide the best governance to the people of Nagaland.”
The second press release stated that the governor of Nagaland has asked TR Zeliang and his Council of Ministers to continue ‘till alternative arrangements are made.’
The outgoing chief minister was said to have been accompanied by some of his Cabinet colleagues.
Agitating tribe organisations have been demanding the resignation of Zeliang over his decision to conduct civic bodies' elections leading to death of 3 persons.
In the 60-member assembly, the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition government comprises 48 NPF legislators, including suspended legislator Imkong Imchen, four Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and eight Independents.