Yitachu Replies to Opponents

I, as a Government Spokesperson, do not wish to react to any press statements that concerns the internal matters of the Party and I stillmaintain that since the party is open for total reconciliation, taking the internal affairs of the party to public domain does not seem appropriate. However, since it is a misrepresentation of facts and parliamentary practices, I would like to once again issue this press release. The convention and parliamentary practices are very clear and well established in India. Every political party having its elected member in the House elects a parliamentary leader. The job of the parliamentary leader is for the purpose of floor management in the House. Any majority grouping in the House when there is vacancy of the leader of the House i.e. the Chief Minister, normally the Legislature Party leader stakes a claim to form the Government. In our present case, the Chief Minister’s post is not vacant for the NPF party. Therefore, even if anybody is assigned the job of a Legislature Party Leader, he or she cannot claim the Chief Minister’s post outside the party forum. This being the law, members from the same party cannot move no-confidence motion. That is why Shri T.R. Zeliang cannot move a no-confidence motion. There is a difference between the Leader of the House and Leader of the Legislature Party. The Leader of the House is the Chief Minister, and within its party set up, it is up to the party, whether to have another leader of the legislature party for floor management in the House. Even if the Legislature Party Leader is not elected for this purpose, the Leader of the House can always perform the role of the Leader of the Legislature Party and there is no illegality or unconstitutionality about it. As a party man, I remain grateful to all my leadership in the party and in the Government. I have been a loyal party legislator to all the leaderships of the party Government right from Shri N. Rio then to T.R. Zeliang and now to Dr.Shürhozelie. In the present crisis, I am a simple, humble party man elected by my Constituency. It is my personal conviction and principled stand to remain a party man of NPF, a regional party which represents the Naga Identity. The ‘Cock’ symbol party now NPF is Naga political party heritage in this biggest democratic country in the world. I do not have any hard feelings towards any of my elected colleagues, and in the course of my political career just because of my loyalty to the party if any inconveniences is caused to anyone it is never on personal issues. Therefore, I still continue to maintain the total reconciliation policy opened by the party and I appeal to all party legislators not to take internal party matter outside the party forum, and to resolve whatever issues are to be resolved within the party for the sake of the people of the State and leave the future to almighty God. Yitachu Spokesperson, Govt. of Nagaland