Kohima: NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Saturday claimed that the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government led by TR Zeliang enjoys the majority support and backed the chief minister’s request to the Governor for summoning a special session of assembly for a trial of strength.
In the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, Naga People’s Front has a total of 38 members supported by pre-poll alliance partners – four BJP and one JD(U) while one NCP and 8 Independent MLAs are also extending outside support to it. Opposition Congress has 8 members.
The dissident group is claiming to have 25 legislators, including 22 NPF and three BJP, but alliance partners of NPF-led DAN cannot extend support to the dissident group as they are pre-poll ally of NPF, the NPF president said while addressing a press conference here on Saturday evening.
Affirming support to Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s appeal to the Governor for summoning special session of the State Assembly for trial of strength between the factions of NPF, he said the present imbroglio can be resolved only through the Assembly. He also claimed that once the session is held the confusion among the people of the state on the choice of leadership would be cleared.
He pooh-poohed the declaration of dissident group led by G Kaito Aye that it has 26 MLAs in the House of 60.
He said out of 22 NPF dissident legislators, the party has already stripped nine of them, who would not be having any voting rights while the alliance partners and Independent MLAs would support the incumbent Chief Minister.
He further expressed hope that the State Governor being a senior politician would take the right decision by summoning the special session.
The NPF president further asserted that if the dissident groups had complaints they should have taken up the matter in party meeting or parliamentary forum. Five member of the dissident group and one BJP legislator, led by Kaito Aye had called on the Governor on January 7 and staked claim to form a new government. (PTI)
