Son ‘sacrifices’ post for CM father’s chair

GUWAHATI: Nagaland chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu’s ex-MLA son Khriehu, at the centre of a political crisis in the state, has declined to become adviser to his father.

On Monday, two days after a majority of the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislators revolted against his “undemocratic” father, Khriehu let the chief minister know he was not interested in the job offered.

“I am writing this letter with reference to the government notification dated June 27, 2017, appointing me as adviser to the chief minister. While appreciating you for appointing me as adviser, I convey my regret that I will not be able to accept the assignment given to me due to my other pressing public engagements,” Khriehu said in a note to his father.

NPF legislators in the antiShurhozelie camp headed by former chief minister TR Zeliang questioned Khriehu’s “refusal” 13 days after his appointment, the trigger for the fresh round of dissidence in Nagaland. But the Shurhozelie faction termed Khriehu’s decision a “sacrifice” — his second in less than 30 days.

Last month, Khriehu resigned as MLA from Northern Angami-I assembly seat to enable his father to contest. Shurhozelie is not an elected member of the 60-seat Nagaland assembly and needs to win the by-election on July 29 to continue as chief minister.

Khriehu’s decision to decline the post of the CM’s adviser is seen as a move to douse the fire of dissidence within NPF. But the Zeliang camp has not shown any signs of compromise.

“The MLAs do not feel secure under the present chief minister ahead of the state assembly elections next year,” Zeliang said before leaving for Delhi on Sunday to meet PM Narendra Modi and Union home minister Rajnath Singh. The NPF is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Zeliang and more than 30 NPF legislators had checked into a resort in Assam’s Kaziranga early on Saturday morning in a bid to topple Shurhozelie.

The opposition Congress too has been cross with Shurhozelie’s “filial affection”.

State Congress chief K Therie said: “Khriehu had in June resigned as MLA on health ground. So was he fit enough to be made an adviser a few days later? His appointment was a shameless act of nepotism.”

KHRIEHU’S DECISION TO DECLINE THE POST OF THE CM’S ADVISER IS SEEN AS A MOVE TO DOUSE THE FIRE OF DISSIDENCE WITHIN NPF