New Delhi: Nagaland Governor PB Acharya today directed Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly on or by July 15, sources said here today. The governor’s direction has come amidst reports of the Centre also being keen to resolve the political crisis in Nagaland well before voting for Presidential elections. Sources said here the Governor today directed Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly on or by July 15.
The rebel camp – claiming the support of 41 MLAs in the 60-member House – has welcomed the Governor’s decision. “It is good. Now, Shurhozelie has no alternative other than to resign. He has lost our confidence and we elected T R Zeliang as our new leader,” a rebel legislator told UNI over phone from Nagaland. The rebel legislators and Mr Zeliang himself are camping in a resort near Dimapur, sources said. Mr Zeliang has on Sunday formally staked claim to form government. The Governor’s decision came after he held telephonic consultations with the Cebntre.
“The BJP central leadership is keen that by July 17, there is no issue that can disturb voting for Presidential elections,” a source said here. The incumbent Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on February 22, is not a member of the assembly and was expected to contest by-election to the Angami-I reserved assembly seat. Under rules, a non-MLA minister or Chief Minister ought to get into the state legislature within six months of his or her swearing in. This is the fourth major political crisis to hit the NPF ministry in the state since 2015. A spokesman for Chief Minister’s camp yesterday claimed that Mr Shurhozelie will contest the by-election. It is learnt that irrespective of what happens on the floor of the assembly, the dissident camp in the NPF would back an independent candidate against the Chief Minister “if election takes place at all”. NPF is an ally of the BJP both in the state and also in Parliament.
