Nagaland CM reluctant to go for confidence vote

Guwahati: Nagaland chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Wednesday said that some BJP leaders were behind the present political crisis, which might “damage or derail” the Naga peace talks.

Talking to this newspaper over telephone from his residence in Kohima, Mr Shurhozelie said, “I am afraid that the ongoing political crisis may have a direct impact on Naga peace talks as some ‘power-mongers’, instead of uniting, are trying to divide the political leadership of the state.”

Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, he said, “There is an attempt by some BJP leaders to make our MLAs join the BJP. We are aware of it, that BJP is trying to repeat the Arunachal Pradesh situation in Nagaland, but our situation is quite different.”

Mr Shurhozelie who has been asked to prove his majority by July 15 sounded reluctant to seek a vote of confidence after a Raj Bhawan directive.

Pointing out that the Governor doesn’t have any role to play in the present political crisis, the veteran Naga leader said, “There is no Opposition in the Nagaland Assembly. The role of the Governor comes into force when the Opposition demands for the change of leadership. It is a dispute of leadership within a party — Nagaland Peoples’ Front.”

Mr Shurhozelie who in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided not to seek a confidence vote said, “It is completely internal affairs of the NPF which will be settled in the party forum, not in the Assembly.”

In the House of 60 in the state (effective strength of 59), there are 47 NPF members, four from the BJP and eight Independents. There is not a single Opposition member. Former chief minister T.R. Zeliang, who is leading the rebellion, and is demanding the chief minister’s post, has claimed support of 34 NPF and seven Independent legislators and has staked claim to form a new NPF-led government in collaboration with the BJP.

Nagaland is scheduled to go for elections early next year, along with Tripura and Meghalaya. The BJP after its maiden victory in Assam last spring has embarked on a mission to capture the seven northeastern states.

This year in April, BJP succeeded in forming the government in Manipur in alliance with the NPF and late P.A. Sangma’s NPP by unseating the Congress.

The BJP has also formed the government in Arunachal Pradesh where majority of Congress MLAs joined the BJP under the leadership of chief minister Pema Khandu.