Kohima, Mar 6 (IBNS) : All speculations that Nagaland is heading towards a constitutional crisis have been ended after incumbent Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Tuesday resigned from his post.
After BJP snapped 15-year-old ties with Naga People’s Front (NPF), TR Zeliang, who earlier refused to quit, has submitted his resignation letter to Nagaland governor PB Acharya.
Zeliang had met the Nagaland governor at Raj Bhawan in Kohima and submitted his resignation letter along with all council of ministers.
“After coming to know of the decision of BJP severing ties with NPF, I am submitting the resignation of the council of ministers headed by me today with a request to accept the same with immediate effect,” TR Zeliang said in his resignation letter.
Zeliang also said that, 27 newly elected NPF MLAs at a meeting on March 4 unanimously choose him to be the Leader of the NPF Legislature Party in newly elected assembly.
“I extend my deep sense of gratitude to my cabinet colleagues for their unflinching support and cooperation in both good and difficult times as well as in government for 4 years. I also assure the Naga people here that we will extend full support to the new government wherever the action of the government is in the larger interest of the Naga people apart from playing a constructive role of opposition in furthering the overall cause of the Nagas,” Zeliang said.
After TR Zeliang stepped down, Nagaland governor Acharya NDPP-BJP alliance CM designate Neiphiu Rio the chief minister of Nagaland under clause (1) of Article 164 of the Constitution of India.
Acharya also asked Rio to prove his majority on the floor of the house on or before March 16 next.
Meanwhile, NDPP-BJP CM designate candidate Neiphiu Rio will be swearing in as the new Nagaland CM on March 8 in Kohima.
12 ministers from NDPP, BJP and JD (U) would likely to induct in the Rio-led new government.
Sources said that, Y Patton, who already elected as the Leader of BJP Legislature Party would likely to sworn in as Deputy CM.
Sources further said that, besides Chief Minister designate Neiphiu Rio four NDPP MLAs will induct in the cabinet.
Apart from it, 4 BJP MLAs (besides Deputy CM), lone JD (U) and Independent MLA would likely to induct in Rio cabinet.
On the other, BJP president Amit Shah, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and several BJP leaders will present in the sworn in ceremonial function.
On Mar 4, a delegation team of BJP and NDPP led by Chief Ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio and senior BJP leader Ram Madhav had met Nagaland governor PB Acharya at the Raj Bhawan in Kohima and staked claim to form new government and claimed support of 32 newly elected MLAs in the 60-member house.
In the final result of the Nagaland assembly poll, BJP has won 12 seats, while NDPP won 18, 26 by NPF, 2 by NPP and one each by JD (U) and Independent.
After the results, lone Independent elected candidate Tongpang Ozukum and lone JD (U) elected candidate G Kaito Aye had supported to the BJP-NDPP alliance.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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