Nagaland Political Crisis
Trust motion ends in controversy; NPA stakes claim:
Kohima, Dec 13 (NPN): Political crisis looms large over the state after controversies surrounded the one-day session on Thursday where the no confidence motion was taken with the opposition claiming victory by 31-23 votes whereas the Speaker nullifying the record by asserting that the DAN passed through with a 23-19 margin.
The contrast in the arithmetic could be explained by the fact that the opposition comprising of 17 Congress, 2 JD(U) and three Independent MLAs were joined by six former NPF legislators who had resigned on Wednesday but which was reportedly not accepted by the Speaker.
In addition, cross voting by three from the ruling NPF camp -- Kheto, Tokheho and Tali -- added to the tally of 31 for the motion while the remaining 23 DAN members voting against the motion.
The proceedings of the house on Thursday was disrupted after the entire opposition members stood in unison near the well of the house, singing “We Shall Overcome” and shouting slogans against the Speaker’s ruling that barred the three Independent MLAs from voting.
Speaker Kiyaneilie had earlier ruled that the three Independent MLAs in the opposition camp have been barred from voting in view of proceedings initiated against them by NPF President and Planning Minister Dr Shürhozelie.
When the issue of the no confidence motion was taken up, the entire opposition totaling 22 along with the six who had resigned but allowed to take part including the three from the ruling NPF bench supported the motion.
Sensing trouble because of the rebellion by the three NPF members and also the superior number with of the opposition, leader of DAN Legislature Party and chief minister Neiphiu Rio issued a three-line whip to all the NPF legislators to vote against the motion.
Leader of the Opposition, I Imkong, Huksa Sumi, P. Chuba Chang and Chingwang Konyak who took part in the debate before voting, charged the DAN government with failure on all fronts, in particular, maintenance of law and order situation, mis-utilization of developmental funds and rampant corruptions.
In his reply, Leader of the House Neiphiu Rio dismissed the allegations of the Opposition as “false and untrue”. He claimed that law and order situation improved a lot during the DAN regime and gave statistics to justify his claim. Rio also claimed that development was visible in every nook and corner of Nagaland.
Following the clarifications, the Speaker put the motion to vote where 23 legislators of the DAN voted against the motion while all 31 members that included 9 NPF voted for the motion. However, Speaker Kiyaneilie declared that only 19 of the 31 votes cast for the motion were accepted.
The Speaker clarified that the three independent MLAs were barred from casting votes while the nine NPF votes were not counted as they had voted against the government violating the whip issued by the Leader of the House.
Subsequently, the Speaker declared that the no-confidence motion had been defeated and the DAN still remained in power.
However, not accepting the ruling of the Speaker, the 31 members staged a walkout declaring that DAN government had been defeated and therefore, it had no moral right to remain in office.
Later, a bulletin issued by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly stated that the accepted votes were that of 17 Congress MLAs and two JD (U) MLAs. It said the votes of three Independent MLAs -Jongshilemba, P. Chuba Chang and Khutovi and nine NPF MLAs - Hukavi, Nkhao Lotha, Kipili Sangtam, Hewoto Awomi, Tarie, Kihoto Hollohon, Kheto, Tokheho, and T. Tali were not counted.
Opposition Leader I. Imkong expressed dismay over the ruling of the Assembly Speaker when he (Speaker) barred three Independent MLAs to cast votes during the “No Confidence Motion” in the Assembly.
Questioning the decision of the Speaker, Imkong said the Speaker had done injustice by passing the interim order against the three Independent MLAs and subverting the Constitution of India. He asked as to how a member could be deprived of his fundamental rights.
Later, in a significant political development, a group consisting of 31 legislators, who had voted against the government in the Assembly, formed an alliance called “Nagaland Progressive Alliance” (NPA) headed by the Leader of the Opposition and later staked claim to form the government.
Addressing a press conference at his official residence following formation of the NPA, Imkong disclosed the NPA had already submitted a memorandum to the Governor and paraded all the 31 legislators before him (Governor) at Raj Bhavan on Thursday afternoon.
The leader-elect also disclosed that they were awaiting a reply from the Governor as he (Governor) sought time to consult the matter with legal experts. “Now the ball is in the court of the Governor,” Imkong said.
He demanded that all decisions taken after the motion should be declared as “null and
void”. Imkong also disclosed that NPA would move a resolution for impeachment of the Speaker.
The memorandum signed by the 31 members pointed out that Neiphiu Rio and DAN government were voted out by a “No Confidence Motion” brought on the floor of the House on Thursday after an overwhelming majority of 31 members voted for the motion as compared to 23 by DAN MLAs who voted against the motion.
Accordingly, the memorandum claimed, the present government had been reduced to minority and therefore, the government and the Chief Minister had no right to continue in office for a single minute. In the memorandum, members of the NPA urged the Governor to invite the leader of the group to form the government immediately.
Meanwhile, Minister for Planning Dr. Shurhozelie described the day as the saddest day of the 47 years history of Nagaland Legislative Assembly after the Opposition MLAs continued their protest even when obituary reference for Late Arienba Jamir, former member of the House, was being read out by the Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie.
Shurhozelie said the protest by the Opposition members during the obituary reference was “an insult to the departed soul”.
Source: Nagaland Post
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