Dimapur, July 9: A day after 34 NPF legislators revolted against Nagaland chief minister and party president Shürhozelie Liezietsu, he responded to the rebel faction by dropping four cabinet ministers, terminating 10 parliamentary secretaries and suspending two other leaders for anti-party activities, including his predecessor T.R. Zeliang.
Zeliang yesterday staked claim to form a new government in a letter to governor P.B. Acharya, with the support of 34 NPF and seven Independent legislators, four-and-half months after he had to step down in the wake of violent protests against civic polls with 33 per cent reservation for women in February.
Liezietsu today removed home minister Y. Patton, minister for national highways G. Kaito Aye, minister for forests, environment and climate change Imkong L. Imchen and power minister C. Kipili Sangtam from his cabinet and also expelled them from the party.
He also terminated 10 parliamentary secretaries - S. Chuba Longkumer, Naiba Konyak, B.S. Nganglang, Deo Nukhu, Shetoyi, Amenba Yaden, Er Picto Shohe, Y.M. Yolow, Er Levi Rengma and Toyang Changkong Chang. Konyak, Shetoyi and Deo Nukhu were also suspended from the party. The list includes six Independent MLAs.
The other two party members suspended are Nuklutoshi and Benjongliba Aier.
However, a meeting of NPF central office-bearers at Kohima this afternoon kept the door open for the return of the legislators, who were led "astray" by vested interests to destabilise the state government at a time when the Centre is trying its "best to resolve the Naga political issue without delay", which is the "ardent desire" of the Naga people.
Murmurs of the revolt against Liezietsu came to the fore on Friday afternoon as Zeliang and his supporters left for a resort in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, even before the Centre's interlocutor for Naga peace talks, R.N. Ravi, left after holding "substantive talks" with all sections. He left for Delhi yesterday.
The Zeliang camp has not issued any statement so far but sources said they are waiting for Acharya to return before revealing their cards.
Acharya, who is in Mumbai, had said over phone yesterday: "It's their internal matter. I have not received any letter from Zeliang staking claim to form the government. Whatever decisions they take, it has to be proved in the House."
The trigger for the revolt is said to be Liezietsu's appointment of his son Khriehu as his adviser with cabinet status and pay. Khriehu, who was a parliamentary secretary, resigned from the House to get his father elected through a bypoll to the Northern Angami Assembly constituency on July 29.
There are 47 NPF, eight Independent and four BJP legislators in the 60-member House after Khriehu's resignation.
Sources said there could be other reasons like the chief minister's steps to check alleged "misuse and leakage of government funds" something which did not go down well with a section of the NPF Legislature Party.
NPF insiders claimed "backdoor appointments" in the police department and reverting to paying 2 per cent oil royalty to land owners could also have led to dissatisfaction among the NPF members.
Liezietsu had taken over from Zeliang on February 22.
An NPF insider said as things stand at this moment, both sides have gone for broke. "If push comes to shove, one should not be surprised if Nagaland heads for early Assembly polls," he said.
Additional reporting by Umanand Jaiswal in Guwahati
