Conspiracy behind the toppling game

Kohima: 10th August, 2017

The 12th House of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly members were elected in February 2013 and NPF led DAN 3rd Government was sworn in on 5th March 2013, with Mr. Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister for the third consecutive time. The Congress led UPA Government at the centre and the DAN Government in the state headed by Mr. N. Rio were not in the best of terms. With 16th Lok-Sabha election scheduled in April 2014, Mr. N. Rio’s ambition to become the Union Minister at the centre was exposed by his clandestine Induction of Mr. C.M Chang who was an MP (LS) to the Cabinet without being elected to the Assembly. Mr. C.M Chang had to resign from MP to contest by-election in later part of 2014. Much against the wishes of NPF party leaders and Hon’ble MLAs, Mr. N. Rio was sent to Lok-Sabha as MP with big margin votes.

As predicted, the Nation saw the landslide victory of NDA partners’ performance in the country and BJP led NDA government was sworn in with Shri. Narendra Modi as Hon’ble Prime Minister in May 2014. The whole Nagas’ expectation of Mr. N. Rio’s induction in the ministry could not materialize and Mr. Rio’s efforts and ambition were shattered.

The lost man started looking back home with sour eyes to Mr. TR Zeliang sitting at his old chair which Rio did not willingly handed over. All efforts failed at the centre, Mr. Rio was aware that under his pressure, the NPF party had passed a resolution that ‘Henceforth no MPs shall be allowed to come back to Legislative Assembly in the midst of tenure (Based on Past experiences)’. He started playing the toppling game, projecting Mr. Kaito Aye for CM in January 2015.

Mr. Kaito was an easy prey and a dummy CM candidate of Rio to be used and when things did not go as he thought to be easy, he tried to damage the party with different cooked up stories for more than three months of vigorous fights but ended in vain. All the dissident MLAs who blindly appended their signature on affidavit paper prepared by Mr. Abu Mehta, the most trusted advisor of Mr. Rio, got almost disqualified when the hidden plan of Mr. Rio to float a new party was surfaced before the Hon’ble Speaker’s Court under the name and style of Naga National Front Party (NNFP). The disqualification petition was then condoned only by the party President Dr. Shurhozelie in true spirit of reconciliation.

Mr. N. Rio once considered as undisputed leader ever since he joined the NPF party, ruled the state for 11 and half years as CM under the protection of most seasoned man Dr. Shurhozelie. Mr. Rio thinks himself as indispensable man of the state is found to be playing “Tantri the Mantri” of the Twinkle comic. He undermined T.R Zeliang and called him as Minority leader and tried to topple him; flooded the media with concocted accusations against to TR Zeliang on Money Laundry case, Educational Qualification case and stirred up civil organizations on PDS, Fuel Adulteration and Corruption, Nepotism and at last, ULB election that saw T.R Zeliang step down as CM with a dream to take over by projecting himself through by his paid supporters as “Rio is the Answer”.

With hope to hijack the NPF party for this remaining period and his negative role towards BJP party during Lok-Sabha election in the region, Rio sees his future bleak to go along with it, ultimately floated his own sponsored party the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that is under process of registration in the Election commission of India (ECI). The process of which is also looks grim as ECI is scrutinizing ownership connections of leaders surrounding it.

Though the world knows, that Dr. Shurhozelie retired from active Political fray and dedicating his time nurturing the most coveted NPF party to see that the Naga Political aspiration is achieved, he was forced by the elected MLAs to salvage the party and the government, when the TR Zeliang’s government was vehemently attacked by Rio Sponsored movement in connection with ULB elections under the pretext of infringement of Article 371(A) of the Naga Customary Practices. Dr. Shurhozelie reluctantly accepted it and in good faith, inducted Mr. Kaito Aye and Imkong L Imchen to his Cabinet to give peace a chance in the state knowing fully well of their notoriety. To this Mr. Rio, commented that “I have send two Trojan Horses to Dr. Shurhozelie camp, very soon, drama will start” in one of their gathering.

T.R Zeliang won the floor test on 5th Feb 2015 where Mr. Kaito and his group chickened out and voted in favor of TR Zeliang government but claimed to have voted in favor of DAN government but not for TR in a face-saving statement and continued to remain in their concentration camp to take over the party through faulty means. During this, TR Zeliang enjoyed the entire government departments in 2015 financial year all alone and has accumulated unaccounted wealth. Having enjoyed the enormous powers vested to CM, both TRZ and N. Rio wants to hook up in power to drain the wealth of state exchequer all for selfish purpose. Dr. Shurhozelie, announced in public domain that he will remain as CM for short period and after seeing the mess being created by these two leaders, he started to set the governance in order, checked the liabilities created by the two former CMs that crippled the state economy and stated not to defend the corrupt official in the system in which he started receiving complaints from Legislators.

The infamous MKR Pillai case surfaced and as CM he was ready to handover the case to CBI which resulted in most of the former Home ministers started to gang up to topple Dr. Shurhozeli govt calling him as un-mandated CM. The treacherous game started after Mr. Khriehu Leizietsu resigned to pave ways for CM to go for by election, to which Mr. TRZ started making silly excuses that old man did not keep his words. In fact, Its TRZ and Y. Patton who forced that Dr should contest by-election to lead the state for the rest of tenure. Having said that, Mr. Y. Patton, Naiba Konyak and others even proclaimed that they are ready to offer their seats for Dr. Shurhozelie to come back elected to complete the tenure.

It is pertinent to mention that the Congress party both at the centre and in the state is ousted. The remaining 8 MLAs in the state had been found themselve in a hopeless situation and they found 2015 crisis as their lucky draw to join the government and later merged with NPF though their cases are still pending in the court. The Congress leaders defied the call of Naga people “Solution Not Election” in 1998. These Congress legislators who keep changing their political stand in search of opportunity have never stood for Naga political Solution neither in the past nor at present. Today after giving shelter in the NPF party, they are trying to destroy the party.

Naga people memory is still fresh when they published the “Bedrock of Naga Society” in 2002. Mr. Rio was Home Minister, TR Zeliang, Tokheho Yepthomi, Imtisungit Jamir, Kaito Aye and others taken the Naga political issue for ride as ministers in that un-mandated government. Today too, we see them flocking together once again to destroy the NPF party that gave them space to repent before the Naga people. Most of young entrants Legislators were misled by these few veteran power mongers who regularly shifts and changes their political uniform hiding treacherous action of their past and are planning to destroy one of the oldest regional party in the country even at this Naga political crucial juncture when the Negotiation is in the final stage between GoI and the Nagas. These Congress brought up leaders, conniving together with North East former Congress Leaders in various other political parties in power in the region and misleading the National leaders to further their whimsical agendas at the threshold of Solution. In the Naga political history, treachery and betrayal from prominent leaders had proven costly in the past and at this juncture, we see the resurrection of these elements in the form of NPF dissident legislators who proclaimed themselves as majority, floating all procedures and laid-down rules, wanting forceful dominance to prevail over it cannot be allowed at any cost.

Mr. Imkong and Mr. Kaito as true Trojan Horses of Mr. N. Rio camp played a tactical game in hoodwinking Legislators, to avenge their failed game of 2015. With ulterior motives, they started mobilizing the legislators of their respective district Legislators. They began to whisper around, inciting, that the present leadership in the party and government is all headed by only Tenyimia, as Both the MPs, CM and Party higher ups are all from Tenyimia family. The party is aware how such a cheap propaganda could become misfortune, as they themselves are involved in so many public unrest activities in the past where the people stands witness.

The duo’s collective mission is not to project Mr. T.R Zeliang as their undisputed leader, nor they are for N. Rio but both has ambition of their own, just waiting for the dust to settle to snatch for themselves. Mr. Imkong L Imchen declared on the NPF CEC meeting in May 2017 that “ When I was in Sovima Camp, I was so afraid of Chotisu Sazo, then Speaker, But now I am not afraid of him, because, Dr. Imtiwapang is Speaker, he is my brother; Nepotism Apply sometimes”. Mr. Imkong’s remarked was proven when the Speaker flouted all norms and procedure and accepted his brother-in-law TR Zeliang Chief Whip against the laid rules in the constitution of India on the stage managed Assembly. Now, with everything done through backdoor, these power mongers are trying to regularize the misdeed by taking over the party but it will only repeat 2015 episode.

Mr. Tokheho Yepthomi, never in his life has contested in any regional party ticket, but he is famous for shifting his loyalty to any government in power, just to cling on for his selfish gain. He was main architect to let ULB election held and threatened the CM and cabinet that he will resign if ULB elections are not held after the JCC put an agreement to halt the election with NBCC as witness at Chumukedima. When turmoil started on ULB election issue with JCC/NTAC targeting only TR Zeliang as CM to step down, Tokheho coolly stepped aside to even play mediator role to defuse situation. After the situation compelled T.R Zeliang to step down, Tokheho, expected his name to be called to replace TRZ, instead, when Dr. Shurhozelie took over the CM, TRZ insisted not to induct Tokheho in the Ministry. Tokheho began to talk against the Tenyimia leadership both in the party and Government. Mr. Nuklutoshi was excommunicated by Ao Senden on ULB related issue yet he was also dropped from Dr. Shurhozelie ministry on the advice of TRZ. These are few hidden fact that TRZ capitalized to blame Dr. Shurhozelie when he cannot wait even for few months to grab power that he tasted.

Mr. TR Zeliang has no big issue with Dr. Shurhozelie other than his hot seat that he really did not wish to part with when he entrusted Mr. K.G Kenye (MP) to obtain signature campaign from Legislators in the event TRZ had to step down that President should take over as CM he began to get uneasy. TRZ started to create confusion in the minds of sworn enemy of Dr. Shurhozelie to gain their support with numbers. Mr. N. Rio has been looking for this opportunity to make deal with TRZ who has good connection with centre for his position in the central ministry.

Mr. N.Rio having launched his party but uncertain with the party to get its registration, left no option but to take short cut to take over the NPF party. Today his claim of being the Interim president of NPF is just a joke. He can only interpret NPF as (Neiphiu’s Private Firm). The original NPF is headed by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu which is recognized by the election commission of India (ECI). Both TRZ and N. Rio agreed to support each other to topple the government and the party. To this the secret plan was hatched with Himata Biswa Sharma, the BJP minister of Assam, (Former Congressman) who is the NEDA chairman, P.B Acharya, the Governor of Nagaland, who was a former BJP party functionaries for 15 years in-charge for N.E along with few other former Congressmen who are currently in BJP planned out to install BJP government in Nagaland. The mooted plan was fully taken into consideration by Mr. Ram Madhav, the current N.E in-charge of BJP as best for the BJP.

Mr. TRZ and Mr. N. Rio even assured that Dr. Shurhozelie will be defeated badly in the bye election. With 47 MLAs against one could not defeat the stable man, the assurance given is a setback for them. Mr. TRZ and Mr. N. Rio could neither break away to form new party nor merge with the BJP to install government in Nagaland which the honorable Governor wish to see his dream comes true in his life time. Given undue unconstitutional advantage to TRZ to take over the government, and the tall promises lay unfulfilled, the Centre must be observing the strained relationship where once natural ally had to be severed for the dirty game plan of few vested interests.

Nagaland is Christian state, and the people’s will power are high, no matter how few vested interest politicians try to change the faith, their spirit cannot be just wiped out. Today, the Naga populace is observing all these developments closely. The NPF regrets to have chosen these few unethical, unprincipled, immoral politicians to represent us to run the affairs of the government under the NPF ticket. However, only 12 Principled MLAs still stand on their solid grounds who have never defected. Those habitual defectors can never take the Naga people forward. These power mongers are compared to group of Hyenas that steals the Carcass of beasts from larger killer. The conspiracy hatched behind these vested politicians needed to be exposed for the people has right to know who is playing such a dirty politics at the cost of Common Naga future. Long live NPF. Long Live Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu.



Issued by
Media & Press Bureau
Naga People’s Front Central Office