Zeliang to meet guv to solve Naga crisis
A day after staking claim to form the next Nagaland government with 34 of the 47 MLAs in the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF), former chief minister TR Zeliang left for New Delhi on Sunday to meet governor PB Acharya. They are expected to meet on Monday, after Acharya returns to Delhi from Mumbai.
Zeliang said he would also try and meet PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh.
“The political crisis in Nagaland today is caused by the undemocratic style of functioning of (chief minister) Shurhozelie Liezietsu in both the party and the government,” Zeliang said before leaving a high-end resort in Assam’s Kaziranga.
He had checked into the resort with at least 30 NPT MLAs on Saturday morning. Ironically, most of these MLAs had forced Zeliang to quit in February – replacing him with a reluctant Liezietsu.
“Liezietsu is the NPF chief and the chief minister. He made his son (Khriehu) his advisor, granting him the status of a cabinet minister. They are calling the shots despite not being elected members themselves. Therefore, the MLAs do not feel secure ahead of the assembly elections next year,” Zeliang said.
The former CM, in a letter to the governor on Saturday, said he enjoys the support of 41 MLAs in the 60-member assembly with an effective strength of 59.
Khriehu had resigned last month to help his father contest the July 29 bypoll from the Northern Angami-I seat. Liezietsu needs to win this seat to continue as CM.
NPF, an ally of the BJP, is the dominant partner in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government.
Liezietsu removed Zeliang as the finance adviser to the chief minister on Saturday evening, although the former CM tendered his resignation at the same time.
He also sacked four ministers and 11 parliamentary secretaries loyal to Zeliang. On Sunday morning, the NPF issued a statement announcing the suspension of 10 party MLAs.