At least 30 of the 47 legislators of the ruling Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) are reportedly camping at a resort near Kaziranga national park in Assam since Saturday morning to help former Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang to return to power replacing Dr Shurhozelie liezietsu, who became the State’s Chief Minister only four months back.
Sources in Nagaland said that the development to the game plan of lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio, who is also a former CM. The source said Rio and his bitter rival TR Zeliang had patched up. Rio has remained cornered in the NPF for long for his alleged anti-party activities.
“About 30 Ministers and MlAs of Nagaland have checked in at around 3 am today (Saturday). There are also others. They have booked around 30 rooms,” a staff of the resort “Borgos” told The Pioneer on Saturday.
TR Zeliang had been the Chief Minister till last week of February this year. He was, however, forced to resign in the wake of violent protests, staged by tribal organisations, against quota for women in civic elections.
The development unfolded even as liezietsu, the chief of NPF, is gearing up to contest the July 29 by-elections from Northern Angami-I seat in State capital Kohima. He is not an elected member of the Assembly and has to win the polls to be able to continue in office.
last month, his son Khriehu had resigned from the Assembly to make way for the father. liezietsu returned the favours later by appointing Khriehu as advisor to him with pay, perks and facilities that of a Cabinet Minister.
The liezietsu senior had won the 2003 and 2008 elections from the seat but in 2013, he opted out for Khriehu, who went on to win the election.
With 47 MlAs in the now 59-member House following Khriehu’s resignation, the NPF calls the shots in ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN). The four BJP MlAs and eight Independents are giving support to DAN.