Kohima: Dissidents led by former chief minister and present MP Neiphiu Rio, were reportedly trying to
pull the carpet from under the feet of chief minister T. R. Zeliang.
The dissident group of the NPF led by Rio today elected G. Kaito Ayeh the new leader of the party legislature and empowered him to form the next government.
Today’s meeting also elected Imkong L. Imchen as the spokesman for the NPF legislature party.
Party sources said party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu had convened the emergency meeting this evening at the party central office here to take stock of the situation.
Rio and the dissidents have been projecting minister for industries and commerce G. Kaito Ayeh as a successor to Zeliang.
A campaign to oust Zeliang intensified in November last year, led by Rio and minister for roads and bridges Khuzoluzo Nienu, projecting Ayeh as the next chief minister. But the trio had failed to muster the required numbers to topple Zeliang.
The NPF-led DAN government stripped Neinu of the parliamentary affairs department and post of chief whip of the party, cautioning him to behave. The party accused him of having a nexus
with Rio to topple the government.
The dissidents said of the 38 NPF legislators, they now have 20 members on their side and that a clear picture would emerge within 48 hours.
The DAN government has 38 NPF, four BJP, one JDU, one NCP and eight Independent legislators.
The relation between the BJP and the NPF became strained after three BJP legislators, who had defected from the NCP in May, were disqualified by Speaker Chotisuh Sazo. Gauhati High Court subsequently quashed the Speaker’s ruling.
The BJP has also accused the DAN government of corruption.
Sources said the BJP wanted a friendly government in the state and did not prefer Zeliang to continue as chief minister.
However, a spokesperson for the state unit of the party said, “We have got nothing to do with their leadership crisis.”
State unit president N. Chuba Ao said even if the Zeliang government is toppled, the BJP would wait and see whether the new government would invite them to be a part of the ministry. He also ruled out interference in the DAN government by the party.
A BJP legislator said they would remain neutral in the current political crisis.
NPF sources said the situation would not have been this critical had Zeliang inducted Rio’s son-in-law Neiphrezo Keditsu into the ministry. He had won the byelection to the Northern Angami-II Assembly seat last year.
Rio was also unhappy with the chief minister and the party leadership’s role during the byelection campaign.
Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi have extended their support to the new leadership. (Courtesy: Telegraph India)