Nagaland CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu will not seek vote of confidence despite dissidence by party MLAs

Kohima: Embattled Nagaland chief minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who is facing dissidence by his party NPF’s MLAs, on Monday said he would not seek vote of confidence in the assembly. “There is no rule for seeking the vote of confidence. There is no point in going to the assembly,” Liezietsu told reporters, adding that there is no point in proving his majority in the assembly since no ‘No Confidence motion’ was brought against him. “But if anybody challenges with a no confidence motion against the government, only then can the governor summon the assembly… Presently there is no no confidence motion so the governor has no role at this juncture,” he said. Governor PB Acharya had asked Liezietsu to seek the floor test on or before 15 July which was stayed by the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court. The verdict is expected on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_3297338” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Shurhozelie Liezietsu. Npfweb.org[/caption] Liezietsu, who is facing rebellion by 43 NPF MLAs led by former chief minister TR Zeliang demanding change of leadership in the present house of 59, said “Our number may be small but we are running our offices normally and regularly”. ‘There is no rule that prevents from running the government with the present numbers that the ministry presently has,’ he claimed, adding the NPF was fully intact. “These members (dissidents) have forgotten their responsibility as run-aways but they are trying to claim inheritance from a distance, which is not possible… They will have to come and join us to continue in the government. We will welcome them (dissidents) if they return because they belong to our family,” he said, reiterating NPF’s call to dissident MLAs for reconciliation. “I hope they will not remain in Kaziranga for all time to come. So we have already issued the revocation order of those who were suspended, including that of Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio who was suspended in 2016,” he said. Liezietsu said the reconciliation was proposed as per the desire and request of the church bodies and Naga organisations. “But as soon as we opened the way, they (dissidents) said that the reconciliation period is over and so it is up to them now”. If the dissidents do not return, the NPF is prepared to select fresh candidates to fill up the gap for the 2018 state general election, the chief minister said. He also refuted the chances of his council of ministers recommending President’s Rule at this juncture.