DIMAPUR, May 28 � Despite the TR Zeliang-led DAN-III Government�s claims to the contrary, a division in the party seems to be growing as the party functionaries and supporters of dropped Ministers have started vandalising party offices in the districts.
Vandalism first began with the NPF Mokokchung Division, almost destroying the office on Saturday, but the intervention of senior leaders calmed the irate party workers. Three-times Minister Imkong L Imchen and debutant and youngest Minister Merentoshi R Jamir were sacked from Zeliang Ministry to be replaced by second time Parliamentary Secretary Nuklutoshi and debutant Dr Benjongliba.
On Monday, Pangyuh Phom�s supporters reportedly vandalised the Longleng NPF Division office after he was dropped from the Ministry and no replacement was made from the district.
Another senior Minister from Tuensang and former Lok Sabha MP CM Chang was replaced by P Longon while G Kaito Aye from Zunheboto district has been shifted from Home to Industries and Commerce. Zunheboto has only one Minister out of the five NPF MLAs from the district.
Chief Minister TR Zeliang is yet to induct the jumbo- sized Parliamentary Secretaries in order to satisfy the 39-odd MLAs of DAN-III Ministry, including ally partners � BJP & JD (U) one MLA each, NCP (four) and eight Independent MLAs. Rio�s DAN-III had 12 Cabinet Ministers, including himself, 21 Parliamentary Secretaries while the rest were accommodated as chairmen and advisors of different departments as well as corporations.
However, Zeliang-led DAN-III is yet to appoint Parliamentary Secretaries with 39 DAN legislators wondering about their fate.
Zeliang, during a press conference on Saturday, had stated that the Parliamentary Secretaries would be inducted within a couple of days. However, he rushed to Delhi on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nevertheless, political observers are of the view that once the list of Parliamentary Secretaries is out, the division amongst the NPF legislators will deepen with 27 of them yet to get any berth for the remaining three years and nine months of the DAN-III Ministry.
The Mokokchung NPF Division along with the frontal wings has warned of severe consequences even to the extent to the suspension of the division if the NPF Central Office fails to furnish the reasons for removal of two of the Ministers from the district. A letter to NPF president Dr Shurhozelie has sought response for the sacking at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the NPF has appealed to legislators and party workers to work towards upholding the discipline and principles of the party. �It is fervently expected that good sense will prevail upon all legislators, party men and women and the party appeals to all to work towards upholding the discipline and principles of the party,� NPF press bureau said in a release today.
�It will be a difficult task to please each and every MLA, constituency or division/district according to their expectations while setting the Ministry in accordance with the constitutionally downsized ratio that is in force. As such, a number of divisions or districts from where sizable number of NPF MLAs were elected cannot be given ministerial berths and hence should not be taken otherwise,� the release said.
