Kohima: The Spokesperson of the NPF dissident legislators in the Kaito camp, Imkong L. Imchen has said that 22 Naga Peoples Front legislators, excluding the speaker, out of 38 NPF legislators in the State Assembly had unanimously elected G. Kaito Aye as the NPF legislature party leader and has overwhelming support of majority of DAN legislators. In a statement Imchen has accused party President Dr Shurhozelie of creating confusion in the minds of the people over suspension of seven NPF legislators and clarified that as per the party constitution, the NPF President is not authorized to issue any suspension order on any party member.
He said the sole and exclusive power on disci-plinary action including penalty of suspension, rested with the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) headed by its chairman and six other members elected by the NPF Central Office. He said that till date, the DAC has neither taken any decision on suspension of party members nor had authorized the party president to do so. Imchen said the DAC holds its full-fledged disciplinary proceedings after issuing show cause notice on any member and giving sufficient time for response. After receiving the response from the member, the DAC holds a trial to determine the veracity of the charges as well as the response, but which has not yet been done in the current case.
Imchen pointed out that the show cause notice was issued on January 6 after the suspension order was issued on January 5, which he said was ‘illegal and against the NPF party constitution’. Secondly, on the issue of who could be the chief minister, Imchen pointed out that under the Indian Constitution, the leader of the majority party having requisite number of MLAs is invited to form the ministry by the Governor.
Imchen said the NPF President cannot suspend or disqualify any MLA either belonging to NPF and majority can only be decided on the floor of the House.(UNI)