Chairman of DAN coalition and also President Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu indicated that there would be a review in the allocation of portfolios of recently inducted ministers and parliamentary secretaries in order to address several complaints and to ensure justice in the matter.
Informing this to Nagaland Post here Sunday, Dr. Liezietsu admitted that he had received demands from some legislators for review of portfolios against the backdrop of several NPF district divisions urging for urgent review.
Dr. Shürhozelie maintained that though allocation of portfolios was the prerogative of the chief minister, he would seek for reexamination of the matter once chief minister T.R. Zeliaing returns back from New Delhi.
Though the DAN chairman did not name those legislators who had expressed disappointment with their portfolios, he disclosed that besides NPF Mokokchung division including some legislators had submitted representations. There were also other party divisions and units who had aired their unhappiness over allocation of portfolios. However Dr. Shürhozelie stated that every portfolio was as good and depended upon how the particular legislator utilizes it for the benefit of the people.
It may also be recalled that NPC legislator from 51 Longkhim-Chare constituency Imtilemba Sangtam who was appointed as chairman MARCOFED recently, declined to accept the post “due to a number of reasons”. Expressing displeasure, Imtilemba stated that it was “unfortunate” , that the NPF leadership had not consulted with NCP leaders before selection of NCP legislators for appointment as parliamentary secretaries or chairman of various state undertakings. Three out of four NCP legislators have been included while the fourth was left out.
The discontentment among NPF legislators with portfolios in the recent reshuffle after T.R. Zeliang took over as the chief minister has been aired in the public domain through statements from several NPF divisions and assembly units.
Reliable sources within NPF, who spoke on condition of anonymity, felt that there was an apparent schism within the legislators over induction into the cabinet as well as appointment of parliamentary secretaries and allocation of portfolios.
With discontent within DAN-III looming large, considerable speculations are also doing the rounds over the likelihood of some non-NPF legislators joining the BJP.
The sources also admitted that chief minister T.R. Zeliang has been under immense pressure from various lobbies and while trying to please all, ended up pleasing none.
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