Nagaland CM meets Governor, seeks trust vote
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy : TNN
Kohima, January 10 2015 :
Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang and Naga Peoples Front (NPF) president Shurhozelie Liezietsu met Governor PB Acharya on Friday, requesting him to summon a special session of the legislative assembly to seek a trust vote.
Zeliang's move came a day after two Ministers, five chairmen and advisors of various government bodies and five parliamentary secretaries resigned, demanding a change in leadership.
The NPF has 38 MLAs in the 60-member house, along with four BJP MLAs, one MLAs each of JD (U) and NCP in the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN).
With the suspension of seven MLAs from the party, Zeliang has support of 16 NPF MLAs while his rival G Kaito Aye faction has 15 members.
Seven of Kaito supporters have been suspended from the party by its president and hence their votes would not count.
A source said the chief minister is yet to accept the resignation of the 12 Ministers, chairmen and parliamentary secretaries, where they stated that they are quitting as majority of NPF legislators have elected Kaito Aye as the new leader.
A six-member delegation of the Kaito Aye faction, including former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Nephiu Rio, are now camping in New Delhi and are seeking appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a source said.
Kaito Aye had on Thursday met the governor to stake claim for installation of a new government under his leadership.
On Tuesday, political turmoil erupted in Nagaland after the ruling party dropped two cabinet ministers and five parliamentary secretaries besides suspending them for their anti-party activity.
Zeliang was made the chief minister after Rio relinquished the post to move in the Lok Sabha.
Rio now is backing the rebel faction led by Kaito Aye.