NPF govt facing crisis yet again

The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) in Nagaland is facing political crisis over the issue of chief ministership even as the present incumbent Shurhozelie Liezietsu will seek election to the house on July 29.
Liezietsu took over from T R Zeliang on Februrary 22 this year following the state-wide protests against the holding of election to the urban local bodies with 33 per cent reservation for women.
He will be seeking election to the assembly from Northern Angami seat, which has been vacated by his son Khriehu Liezietsu, within the mandatory six month period.
Sources in NPF told PTI on condition of anonymity that 33 MLAs are in Zeliang's camp, while 11 each are in the camps of Liezietsu and Lok Sabha MP and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio. The rest of the MLAs in the 60-member house are maintaining neutrality.

They also said that the majority group are camping outside the state.
Liezietsu, who is also the NPF President, in a statement expressed pain at the "disturbing developments", which he said, was "affecting the normal functioning of the government".

The current issue is a matter within the NPF party and will be "resolved at the earliest" to bring about normalcy in the state, he assured adding that the mandate of the people will be respected.
The present crisis will be resolved in the larger interest of the people of the state, he said adding "The NPF-led DAN Government will complete its full term."

"The normal government functioning should be smooth and the benefits of the government programmes at the grassroot level especially in rural areas should not be hampered in any manner," he said and appealed to the people of the state to remain calm.
This is the fourth time in the NPF-led DAN government when MLAs are working out to oust the incumbent chief minister.
Since 2014 when Neiphiu Rio vacated the chief minister's chair to play his role in the Lok Sabha, the NPF government has faced such crisis twice in 2014 and 2015 and Zeliang had managed to retain his chiefministership. He was forced to bow out after the crisis over the ULB election in February this year.