Kaito Aye well placed to replace TR Zeliang as Chief Minister
Give opportunity for majority will to prevail : Rio
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, January 05 2015: The seven month-old TR Zeliang Government in Nagaland is tottering and is likely to be replaced in the next few days.

Sources informed Newmai News Network that Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio is also exerting efforts to replace TR Zeliang.

Significantly Chief Minister TR Zeliang convened an NPF Legislature Party meeting today but only 8 of them turned up.

Sources said out of the eight NPF legislators two have withdrawn their support to TR Zeliang's leadership this evening.

Meanwhile, sources said Independent and BJP MLAs are supporting Kaito Aye's leadership.

In a meeting today in Dimapur, the disgruntled legislators of Naga People's Front (NPF) have unanimously decided to back former Home Minister Kaito Aye as their new leader.

Out of the 38 NPF MLAs around 30 of them are said to be supporting Kaito.

TR Zeliang, Kaito Aye and Nephiu Rio

The meeting unanimously elected Kaito Aye as the new leader of the NPF Legislature Party and empowered him to form the new Government.

In view of the new development, the disgruntled MLAs have appealed to the NPF party leadership to allow inner democracy to take place and let the will of the majority prevail, as was the case in the previous change of guard when Noke had selflessly withdrawn his candidature in the greater interest of the unity of the NPF party.

The house expressed its utmost concern for the unity of the NPF and it was made clear that the present exercise was not anti-party in any manner but only a move for change of leadership within democratic norms.

The meeting also decided to appoint Imkong Imchen as the spokesperson of the NPF Legislature Party and all communiqu�s and information to the press and media for public consumption would be made through him only.

The meeting appealed to all NPF workers at all levels to remain calm and remain united in the greater interest of the party and assureed all that the present move is not aimed at damaging the aspirations, vision and principles of the party.

"We have trust and faith in the democratic foundations of the party and we are confident that democracy will be allowed to prevail in a smooth manner.

"The NPF Legislature Party assures the people of Nagaland that we will form a stable DAN Government under the presidentship of NPF President Dr Shurhozelie along with a positive partnership with the NDA Government at the Centre in order to strengthen the peace process and bring about an early solution to the Indo-Naga political issue along with all round development of the State," a press note issued by Imkong Imchen who is the spokesperson of the NPF Legislature Party said.

Meanwhile, in a joint press release this evening, Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi said the majority of NPF legislators have collectively decided to change the leadership of the present Ministry.

They have all signed letters of support in favour of Kaito Aye to lead the NPF Legislature Party and the DAN Government.

"We, the two Members of Parliament, representing the entire State of Nagaland in Delhi also extend our support to the majority view of the legislators," Rio and Zhimomi stated.

Both the MPs said, "in view of this these developments, we appeal to the party men and women to remain calm and united and allow the inner party democracy of the legislators to prevail.

The democratic principle of majority should be allowed to prevail in the greater interest of the NPF.

"We have the greatest concern for strengthening the NPF, in all the areas where our party is present, and therefore the need of the hour is for the party to stay united and give opportunity for the will of the majority to prevail," they added.

"Nagaland is in need of a stable and effective Government which will share a positive relation with the Government of India in order to bring an early resolution of the Naga peace process and accelerate development in the State.

We appeal to the NPF president and NPF Legislature Party to ensure a smooth transition, like in the case of the previous change of guard when Noke had magnanimously withdrawn his candidature in the greater interest of party unity," Rio and Zhimomi stated.