Kohima, April 17: The ongoing reconciliation process between the two factions of the Naga People's Front (NPF) after months of bitter fighting is likely to seal the fate of the Congress, which had supported chief minister T.R. Zeliang during the trial of strength on February 5.

Assured of induction in the NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, the Opposition Congress had supported Zeliang but the latest developments are likely to leave it high and dry.

For the last couple of months, there has been bad blood between the two factions of the NPF, one led by Shurhozelie Liezietsu and another by Noke Konyak.

The dissidents, led by Konyak and Lok Sabha MP and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio, have vowed to oust Zeliang. They have been demanding his resignation, citing bad governance. They even went to the extent of removing party president Liezietsu and appointing Konyak in his place. They have been holed up at Naithu Resort in Chumukedima near Dimapur since January and are still camping there.

Some members of the Liezietsu group are, however, against reconciliation. "They (the dissidents) can come back but not through reconciliation," a senior functionary of the group said. Sources said some members have warned the leadership that they would leave the party if the dissidents were taken back through reconciliation.

Some party functionaries loyal to Zeliang and Liezietsu are apprehensive that the dissidents could be playing Trojan Horse to overthrow the duo after entering the party fold. "We can't trust them," a source in the party said. "This latest move by the dissidents could be a ploy," a source close to the chief minister said.

The dissidents had first offered an olive branch to Zeliang and Liezietsu. Several top leaders, including Rio and Konyak, met Liezietsu to find a middle path. They even withdrew a case they had filed with the Election Commission.

However, sources in the dissident camp said reconciliation would not be that easy. There were some issues which need to be resolved. Some dissidents met Liezietsu last evening too, demanding revocation of suspension of some members and withdrawal of the disqualification notice issued to the dissidents by Speaker Chotisuh Sazo.

The Congress has also not ruled out a ploy by NPF dissidents to oust Zeliang and Liezietsu in the name of reconciliation.

"There can be reconciliation from the outside but there can never be a reconciliation inside," a senior Congress leader said. He cautioned that Zeliang and Liezietsu could be writing their own political obituaries and could be ousted within a couple of months.

PCC general secretary (administration) Medokul Sophie said, "I hope Liezietsu and Zeliang will keep their word. If not, it will haunt them sooner than they think."

Some NPF members said they want action to be taken against the dissidents and the Congress inducted into the government.

The NPF has 38 MLAs in the 60-member House. The DAN comprises the NPF (38 MLAs), the BJP (4), NCP (1), the JDU (1) and Independents (8). The Congress has eight members.

The NPF reconciliation development came at a time when infighting has started among Congressmen on who should be inducted in the ministry. Sources said PCC president S.I. Jamir and leader of the Congress Legislature Party Tokheho Yepthomi were both eyeing cabinet berths. Zeliang had offered the Congress only one cabinet berth.

If the reconciliation materialises, it would be once bitten twice shy for the Congress.

BJP chief

BJP national president Amit Shah arrived here today and met the party's state unit leaders, legislators, members of the Naga Hoho and chief minister T.R. Zeliang, among others.

He discussed the development of the state and security of Christians and minority communities in the country and assured them of security for the minority communities, especially people from the Northeast.

Coming out of the meeting at Chumukedima, some 60km from here, the president of the Naga Hoho, Chuba Ozukum, said they had submitted a memorandum to Shah, apprising him of the need to expedite the Naga peace process and for safety of the minority communities.

Members of the Muslim community of the state also urged the BJP leader to uphold the secularism of the country.

The Mizoram chief minister also met Shah to discuss the development of the state on a war footing.

Shah also discussed the enrolment drive in the state with the party leaders, including the president of the state unit, N. Chuba Ao.

The BJP is also a divided house in the state, with a rift among the four BJP legislators.

The BJP president will leave for Imphal tomorrow.