DIMAPUR, Jan 12 � Seven out of the total eight Independent MLAs in Nagaland have issued a joint statement declaring their support to Chief Minister TR Zeliang. In the joint statement today, they stated that they have been together under TR Zeliang�s leadership in DAN-III and will continue to be with him. They also asserted to jointly work with Zeliang and support his leadership for the welfare of the people and all round development of the State.
The seven Independent MLAs issued the declaration following dissident NPF group�s spokespersons Imkong L Imchen�s statement which appeared in local dailies on January 11 wherein beside other baseless issues, no mention of the factual position about the eight Independent MLAs in the present Nagaland Assembly was made.
The seven Independent MLAs who signed the joint statement are Levi Rengma, Jacob Zhimomi, YM Yollow, Picto Shohe, Toyang Chang, S Chuba and Amenba Yaden.
Meanwhile, maintaining that NPF president Dr Sh�rhozelie�s statement, which was published in local media, implied that the crisis within the NPF is no longer an internal matter of the party but an issue of DAN, the BJP Nagaland said such a situation has made the DAN Legislature Party the only competent body to elect its leader.
Therefore, the only option to end the impasse is for the Chief Minister to immediately call an exclusive DAN Legislature Party/DAN legislators� meeting where all the DAN member legislature parties will have the opportunity to decide on the leader of the house, spokespersons, BJP Nagaland, said in a release today, the release said.
Noting that the present political crisis in the State is the machination of NPF, the State BJP, cautioned that if the situation compels the Governor to declare President�s rule in Nagaland on ground of breakdown of constitutional machinery, the NPF will be solely responsible and answerable to the people of Nagaland. BJP Nagaland also made it very clear that it will not be part of DAN that takes the help of Congress.
The issue in question is for change of leadership and not about losing confidence in the government, meaning the leadership issue needed to be resolved first before demanding floor test, the release added.
