Nagaland: TR Zeliang quits, Neiphiu Rio in race to be new CM

Zeliang put in his papers a few minutes before 8pm, with governor PB Acharya asking him to continue till alternative arrangements were made.

Nagaland: TR Zeliang, Neiphiu Rio

FACING A revolt from his party MLAs, Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang resigned on Sunday, hours after he called an “emergency meeting” on Monday to select a “new consensus leader”. While there is no clarity yet on who will be his successor, former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is reported to be the frontrunner. Sources said Zeliang, however, was trying to influence a section of the legislators to support NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu instead. Zeliang tendered his resignation to Governor P B Acharya a little after 8 pm on Sunday. A Raj Bhavan press release said the Governor had asked Zeliang to continue till alternative arrangements were made. It said Zeliang was accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues. Zeliang’s decision came a day after the ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) MLAs, who moved to a resort in Kaziranga National Park in neighbouring Assam on Friday night, held a marathon seven-hour meeting during which they decided that Zeliang would have to make way for Rio.

Rio, a former Chief Minister who is now a Lok Sabha MP, was expelled from the NPF last year. The meeting was attended by Rio and a few Independent MLAs. The legislators have since returned to Kohima.

Earlier in the day, Zeliang held an emergency meeting with over 40 NPF legislators in Kohima soon after his return from the national capital. After the meeting, he announced his decision to step down on Monday, after holding a meeting of the NPF Legislature Party and the DAN Legislature Party.

The 60-member Nagaland Assembly has no Opposition. All are members of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) — 49 NPF, 4 BJP and 7 Independents.

“I have decided to step down from office. And to select a new consensus leader to succeed me, I hereby call for an emergency meeting of the NPF Legislature Party meeting at 10 am tomorrow,” Zeliang said in a statement released at around 5 pm. “All members are requested to attend the meeting so as to select a consensus leader to ensure smooth transition of office and to provide the best governance to the people of Nagaland,” he said.

But most of the legislators are reported to have advised him to resign as soon as possible.

Zeliang has been under fire for his handling of the protests against quota for women in urban local bodies and the violence that followed. Two public bodies —Nagaland Tribes Action Committee and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) —have enforced an indefinite bandh in the state since February 6. Soon after Zeliang’s statement Sunday, JCC said it would continue the bandh Monday if Zeliang remained in office.

Story continues below this ad

Zeliang, 62, took over as chief minister in May 2014 after then chief minister Neiphiu Rio was elected to the Lok Sabha.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Nagaland