Principal Correspondent
Kohima, January 12
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today asked the dissident NPF legislators to either return to the ‘original NPF’ or go for trial of strength in the Assembly. Addressing a press conference along with Home Minister Y Patton at his official chamber in Secretariat here this afternoon, Zeliang made a clarion call to the 22 dissident NPF MLAs to come back to the party fold while also asserting that the dissident factor has not affected the functioning of the government.
“We are still calling everybody to come back after which I will convene the NPF Legislature Party and DAN Legislature Party meeting to resolve the entire issue,” he said.
Stating that his government was contemplating to resume the functioning with a fresh mind and new vigour this New Year, Zeliang lamented that such ‘unfortunate’ political development took place creating confusion in everyone’s mind.
“I have called this press meet in order to clarify and put things in the right perspective,” he said.
Zeliang alleged that “shortly after my appointment as the Chief Minister, for reasons best known to them, our MPs started a campaign for change of leadership.”
“Instead of attending the Parliament session in Delhi, Rio started calling MLAs to his house individually and planted the seeds of dissent while Khekiho started visiting the houses of the elected members encouraging them to dissent and offering them lucrative portfolios. Except for a few members, most them were not convinced by such lures and reported the matter to him,” the Chief Minister claimed.
He recalled that some of the elected members proposed for reaffirmation on the incumbent leadership and accordingly the NPF and DAN legislators reaffirmed their support upon him on August 16, 2014.
Zeliang said since the plan of the two MPs failed, they became more desperate and while the world was celebrating Christmas season, they came out with a new strategy and again started calling the elected members one by one on the pretext of discussing some important issues.
He alleged that whoever went to meet them were kept in Rio Villa, Sovima in Dimapur district under wrongful confinement, and even their mobile phones were replaced with new ones. Since then, he said Rio Villa has been guarded by Rio's security personnel along with underground cadres of a particular faction and no visitors were allowed.
This is how the number of members confined rose up to 22 and they started laying claims to form alternative government under Kaito’s leadership, he stated.
The CM said many of the dissident legislators have been misinformed and misled but they would return to the original NPF fold once they realise that they had been taken for a ride.
Zeliang also expressed surprise over the game played by State BJP president Chuba Ao in keeping the BJP MLAs confined in Rio Villa along with NPF members.
“It would have been fair on Chuba’s part if he had played a neutral role and helped the NPF settle their internal differences of the party in the interest of the DAN government,” he opined.
Zeliang further stated that since the NPF leadership, chief whip and the Speaker of the Assembly have not been informed of the move for change of leadership, the move is unconstitutional and illegal.
Under the circumstances, he opined, the crisis can be resolved only through trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly.
“I am ready to face it, and I have written to the Governor to call a special session,” he affirmed. “Now the matter is the court of the Governor and I assume that as a matured personality, the Governor will take the right decision,” he said.
Zeliang further stated that although the dissident group claimed to have the support of 22 NPF legislators, the legal and official position of the House has not changed at all. “Any resolution taken under duress is not constitutional and it is undemocratic,” he said. He also called upon the dissident group to learn to respect/obey the provisions of the Constitution of the nation and party while also appealing them not to be swayed away by the ill motives of some leaders.
“Since no legislature party has officially conveyed to the Speaker of Assembly their withdrawal of support, my government has the support of 52 members in a House of 60,” he claimed.
He also reiterated that the dissident group does not have a legal voice, as they have not decided to split from the NPF and form a separate group.
“Even if they do so, their group shall have to be given official recognition by the Speaker first before their voice can be heard in the eyes of the law and the Constitution,” he maintained.
The CM also maintained that the rebel factor has not hampered the functioning of the government, as all government procedures are being taken up every day while also adding that the vacant eight posts, which include two ministers and six parliamentary secretaries, will also be filled up shortly. On the diktat of the dissident group that no government employees should take the orders of the present government, he termed it as ‘illegal’ and said they do not have any authority to give such directives. “The government is functioning normally,” he added.
The CM also informed that he is yet to accept the resignation letters submitted by the 11 dissident legislators while stating that “we will examine the reasons”.
On charges of the dissident group failing to approach them for reconciliation, he said, “Since they were unapproachable, I could not make any move for reconciliation.”
“I can convene the legislature party meeting and also hold DAN legislature party meeting but cannot call anyone of them as they are under tight security,” he said.
On the dissident leader Kaito Aye along with two MPs going to Delhi to meet the BJP National leaders, he said, “I am in constant touch with the BJP high command, and they will never interfere in the internal problems of the NPF… they do not have any interest.”
Clarifying on the allegations that he had also followed the similar method of camping in Kaziranga (Assam) with his supporter legislators earlier, Zeliang recalled that time Rio had gone to Delhi so election of a new leader became imminent and the NPF Working Committee constituted a core committee to conduct the opinion poll of the legislators, which was done and the 23 MLAs supported him. Previous change was not done without the knowledge of the party and the NPF Legislature Party, he said. He also said Kaziranga and Rio Villa are quite different.
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On the allegation that he had failed to take up the unresolved Naga political issue at the Centre, Zeliang said, “My first agenda is resolution to the Naga political issue and whenever I meet the PM, I put the issue on top.” “Resolution of NPI is a must because development cannot sustain while the present peaceful atmosphere will not be permanent unless it is resolved,” he said. Zeliang also said whenever in Delhi he has always been meeting Rio even to the extent of going to his house to discuss the matter. “While for Khekiho I tried to meet him but could not do so for three months,” he said while stating that Khekiho was also saying that he was trying to contact me for two months. “So altogether we have been trying to contact each other for five months,” he quipped.
On his relationship with Centre, he claimed that he has been maintaining cordial relationship with the PM, HM and FM. He cited that during the previous government, even Rio failed to get appointments but presently whenever we go the PM is very friendly and directly gives us the time.
Interestingly, Zeliang was of the opinion that the entire move to topple his government started because they (dissident leaders) have foreseen that something good is going to happen and with the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission development and change will take place.
He also revealed that the Union Finance Ministry had asked him to go to Delhi for release of the backlogs of the State since 2003-04 but due to the present development, he could not leave.
On approaching the Opposition Congress to bail his government on the floor of the Assembly, he said it was Kaito who had approached Tokheho two times. He said once the Governor summons the special session, than we will surely have to approach all the 60 members of the House, including Congress. Zeliang also acknowledged the support extended to his government by the NCP, JD(U) and seven Independent MLAs.
