8 ex-Cong MLAs declared NPFLP members

Two days after eight former Congress legislators claimed merger with the NPF party, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo in an order dated November 21, accepted the claims and declared the eight legislators as members of NPF Legislature Party (NPFLP).

Informing this in a press note, NLA commissioner and secretary N. Benjamin Newmai said that the NLA Speaker disposed of (1) Petition No.2. 2015 K. Therie, NPCC president Vs S.I. Jamir MLA and others dismissing the Petition vide Order No.AS/LEG/PETITION/2015 dated 20th November, 2015.

He further said that (2) Petition No.2, 2015 S.I. Jamir and seven others claiming merger, has been accepted and the claimants declared as members of the NPF Legislature Party vide order No.AS/LEG/PETITION-M/2015 dated 21.11.2015.

It may be mentioned that the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on September 4 filed a petition before the NLA Speaker seeking disqualification of seven out of eight Congress— S.I. Jamir, Tokheho Yepthomi, C Apok Jamir, S Hukavi Zhimomi, Imtikumzuk, Eshak Konyak and Khekaho Assumi. Imtikumzuk’s name was withdrawn since the deputy speaker did not fall under the provision of the Anti-Defection Law.

The petition filed by NPCC president K. Therie sought disqualification on the ground that seven legislators attracted provisions under the Anti–Defection Law and rules as framed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Notwithstanding the disqualification petition filed by NPCC, all eight suspended Congress legislators, who had joined the NPF-led DAN III government under chief minister T.R. Zeliang, claimed merger with the NPF party on November 12.

In a letter to the NLA Speaker, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie stated, that the merger of the eight legislators with the NPF was effected after fulfilling the merger as per the format required under the Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 2003 along with other supporting documents.

Dr. Shürhozelie also stated that the Congress legislators had merged with NPF in accordance with the law laid down by the Gauhati High Court in writ appeals Nos. 297 & 298/2014 (as per judgement delivered on November 12, 2014) and thus, protected against disqualification on grounds of defection.

The turmoil within the Congress began simultaneously with the dissidence within the ruling NPF since November 2014. The Congress legislators backed T.R. Zeliang despite being approached by the dissident group camped at Sovima.