DIMAPUR, Dec 7 � Dissident NPF legislators stationed in Dimapur have issued a statement today saying the NPF Legislature Party and the DAN Legislature Party have unanimously elected G Kaito Aye as the leader of the NPF and DAN legislature parties and he has been elected to be appointed as the next Chief Minister of Nagaland.
The statement issued by Imkong L Imchen, spokesperson, NPF Legislature Party, said the House has lost its confidence in the leadership of TR Zeliang and appealed to him to gracefully step down so as to avoid disunity within the party and prevent damage to the NPF, as �we are all concerned for the image of the party�.
Stating that the electorate of Nagaland had given us a mandate to serve the people and the welfare of the citizens of the State is of prime concern for all of us, the statement said therefore it will be in the people�s interest if TR Zeliang steps down gracefully and allows the majority view to prevail in a democratic manner.
Welcoming the unanimous support extended to the �majority of NPF legislators� by the BJP MLAs and the State BJP unit, they assured the BJP that they will rebuild the relationship between the NPF and the BJP and develop a positive and constructive partnership with the NDA Government at the Centre in the greater interest of the State, the nation and the peace process. �We also welcome the support extended to the leadership of Kaito Aye by the MLAs of the DAN alliance,� the statement said.
Condemning what they called dictatorial, autocratic and undemocratic manner in which some MLAs were suspended by the NPF president, the �majority of NPF legislators� said the manner in which this action has been carried out is totally against the constitutional norms and there is no question of any anti-party activities on the part of any member. �Such gesture will only damage and destroy the party and we demand an immediate revocation of the order in the greater interest of the party,� they said.
They further condemned and expressed resentment in the autocratic manner in which the Chief Minister has dropped seven of their colleagues from their responsibilities and assignments. �The action exposes the fact that Zeliang is willing to compromise the future of the party and the people for the sake of clinging on to the chair even when he has lost the popular support of the members of the Nagaland Assembly,� they said.
In protest against the suspensions and sackings, they decided to resign from respective assignments and responsibilities as Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, advisers and chairmen.
Further, rejecting the CM�s personal attack on MP and former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio which exposes his immaturity and his inability to run the affairs of the State, the �majority of NPF legislators� said he seems to be blaming others for his own failures.
They also condemned the manner in which the present government is keeping MLAs under forced confinement using the security forces of the State in Hotel Oriental Grand in Kohima. �Though many colleagues are willing to come and join us, they are kept under house arrest and not allowed to exit the hotel,� they stated.
