DIMAPUR, March 26 - The ruling People�s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Nagaland has severed ties with the National People�s Party (NPP).
Nagaland Cabinet Secretary Temjen Toy, in a notification issued on Monday night, said the PDA has terminated NPP State president Ato Yepthomi, general secretary Sasank Ghatraj and executive member G Viccashe Sumi as members of the alliance with immediate effect.
�They will accordingly cease to hold the status of minister of state,� the notification said.
Following the Cabinet Secretary�s notification, Toy, who is also the State Chief Secretary, in a separate notification on Monday night, also said that NPP State president Ato Yepthomi has been terminated from the post of chairperson of the Nagaland Hotels Limited with immediate effect.
The PDA is now left with the NDPP, the BJP, the JD (U) and Independent candidates.
The development comes after the NPP decided to field its own candidates for the lone Lok Sabha seat and a by-poll in Nagaland slated for April 11. The two NPP MLAs in the State � Inatiba and L Khum � joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on March 20.
The PDA has put up consensus candidates from the NDPP for the Lok Sabha polls and the by-election in the State.
NPP State president Yepthomi said the PDA removed the NPP from the alliance by taking away two of its legislators, but it has not weakened the party. Instead, this has made the PDA more insecure even though it has more numbers now, he added.
Yepthomi said the NPP is determined to ensure victory for party candidate O Tinu Longkumer in the by-election to the Aonglenden Assembly. He claimed the NPP has young and dedicated party workers eager to bring about change and eradicate corruption.
Yepthomi also said the party has �sacrificed� two of its legislators for the by-election and is ready to use all its resources for victory of its candidates in both the Lok Sabha election and the by-poll.
