Nagaland political crisis: TR Zeliang-led NPF MLAs meet governor, urge him to sack Shurhozelie Liezietsu

Kohima: Rebel Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Independent legislators, who are seeking the removal of Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, on Saturday met Nagaland Governor PB Acharya and asked him to uphold the Constitution. Led by former chief minister TR Zeliang and lone Nagaland Lok Sabha member, Neiphiu Rio, 43 legislators — 36 NPF legislators and seven Independents, met Acharya and apprised him of the present political imbroglio. Zeliang and his group of legislators drove to Raj Bhavan followed a day after the Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court stayed, till 17 July, the floor test for Liezietsu. [caption id=“attachment_3818181” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Shurhozelie Liezietsu. Image courtesy: NPFWEB.ORG[/caption] “The minority government headed by Liezietsu should be asked to step down honourably instead of heading to the legal battlefield to cling on to power,” Zeliang told the governor. Zeliang had last Sunday written to the governor staking claim to form the new government. The next day, the chief minister sacked four of his top ministers and 10 Parliamentary Secretaries following a demand for his removal. Following Zeliang’s staking claim, Acharya asked Liezietsu to summon an assembly session for the floor test before 15 July. However, Liezietsu sought legal recourse against Acharya’s directive based on Supreme Court judgment that the Governor has no authority on his own to summon, prorogue or dissolve the Assembly. Justice LS Jamir of the Kohima bench of Gauhati High Court has listed the matter for the next hearing on Monday. In the 60-member assembly one seat is vacant. The ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition has 47 NPF legislators, four Bharatiya Janata Party members, and eight Independents.