Minister Yitachu Speaks Out
Kohima, 12th July, 2017
The Government in a State means Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers. The maximum Council of Ministers for the state of Nagaland is 12 which comprises of Chief Minister and 11 Cabinet Minister. In the face of thepresent dissidence among the NPF Legislators, the NPF Party as well as the State Government are intact, and both the NPF Party and the State Government are functioning normally.
Out of the 12 Cabinet berths, 8 are being occupied, thereby forming the full quorum. Constitutionally and legally, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, Chief Minister of Nagaland still enjoys the confidence of 58 Members i.e. 47 NPF MLAs, 4 BJP MLAs and 7 Independent MLAs, because the 4 BJP MLAs are in the Government, and even the 7 Independent MLAs have not withdrawn their letter of support extended to Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu.
2. The present crisis is purely NPF internal Party affair. The issue of leadership in the NPF Party is different from the leadership in the Government i.e Chief Minister. When it comes to leadership in the Party, it has to be decided in the Party Forum, and the issue cannot be taken to the Governor’s office, or in the Assembly.
For example, if there is a legislature party leadership issue among the 4 BJP MLAs in the state, will the Governor summon the House to resolve the BJP Legislature Party leadership issue? If
the answer is 'No', then in that case, no matter what the number of dissident NPF Legislators may be, the legislature Party leadership issue in the NPF cannot be decided by the Hon’ble Governor's office, or on the floor of the Assembly.
If Shri T.R Zeliang claims to have the support of the majority NPF Legislature Party, he should take up the issue with the NPF Party first, but asking Hon’ble Governor to resolve the internal affairs of the NPF Party is illegal and unconstitutional. Trying to resolve internal Party problems in the Assembly is not in accordance with democratic and Parliamentary practices. That is why, it is an established law that a No-Confidence Motion cannot be tabled in the Assembly by the Legislators of the ruling party.
3. In any given political party, there is always a room for inner party democracy, including freedom to express differences of views and opinions. However, in the case of the present camping of dissident MLAs at Kaziranga, the movement of MLAs are being restricted, and they are kept under forced confinement. This is undemocratic, as it undermines freedom of movement and freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution.
4. Further, it may be stated here that the Independent MLAs, or for that matter, the MLAs of BJP or other political parties have no role to play in the issue of deciding leadership of the NPF Legislature Party. It is expected that such established democratic practices and parliamentary procedures should be within the knowledge of Hon’ble MLAs.
( YITACHU )
Spokesperson, NPF Party.
* This Press Release was sent to e-pao.net by Media & Press Bureau, Naga People’s Front, Central Office who can be contacted at npfpressbureau(AT)rediffmail(DOT)com
This Press Release was posted on July 13 2017
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