In a major political development, Nagaland chief minister T.R. Zeliang on Friday removed BJP MLA, Mmhonlumo Kikon from the post of parliamentary secretary (Labour Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Border Affairs) with immediate effect.
This was stated in notification issued by cabinet secretary R.B. Thong on October 28, 2016.The BJP has four legislators and all of who are in the all-party DAN government.
Though the reason was not made known, highly placed sources informed Nagaland Post that Kikon was probably removed because of his alleged anti-NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government activities, of which the BJP with four legislators is also in alliance.
When contacted, Nagaland state unit BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu disclosed that a state BJP party delegation met the chief minister earlier at his residence. At the meeting, he said the chief minister expressed disappointment against the activities of Kikon in addition the PIL filed in relation with the oil imbroglio.
Lhoungu however said it was not known whether Kikon was sacked because of the oil issue or some other reason. He said if the chief minister has enough evidence of Kikon going against the interest of the government, then it was left to the state chief minister and his government to take action.
When queried whether it would have any impact on the alliance of the state BJP party or Central party leadership after the unceremonious and sudden removal of Kikon, Lhoungu said the Central leadership might not appreciate the decision.
However, he presumed that as the NPF which was in alliance with the BJP, the chief minister must have taken the decision to sack Kikon after due consultation with Central party leadership.
The BJP state president, Lhoungu also said he did not wish to comment on the issue for now, but reiterated that the party did not have any inkling or prior information about why its legislator was sacked from the T.R. Zeliang ministry.
On the other hand, another party source claimed that the decision was taken after due consultation with the BJP party leaders and BJP legislators.
Meanwhile efforts to contact BJP legislature party leader Paiwang Konyak and Mmhonlumo Kikon proved futile.
The sacking of Mmhonlumo from the T.R. Zeliang ministry could also reveal a larger strategy by the NPF to totally neutralise even any perceived criticism or ‘equi-distance’ shown with regard to current leadership and former chief minister and present Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio.
During the revolt against the leadership of T.R. Zeliang in January-February 2015, the majority of NPF legislators sided with the Kaito-Noke group. During that crisis, three BJP legislators were with the anti-T.R. Zeliang group except for minister of transport Paiwang Konyak.
Meanwhile, Mmhonlumo Kikon could not be contacted as he was reportedly out of station.