In Nagaland power tussle, CMs former, present and hopeful

The tussle dates back to the time Rio got elected to the Lok Sabha. The race to succeed him as CM pitched Zeliang against Aye, who used to be a minister in Rio’s government. Yet another contender was Noke Wangnao, who has now been declared the president of Aye’s breakaway NPF.

Zeliang is seen as having had the blessings of Rio who, however, has since thrown his weight behind the rebels. Along with Khekiho Zhimomi, the other MP of the Naga People’s Front, Rio issued a statement earlier this month expressing support for Aye’s leadership.
“This has taken us by surprise,” a party insider said. “Although lobbying for the CM post was stiff, at the end of the day Zeliang was Rio’s right-hand man and also one of his closest friends.”

“This is not political but personal,” says K G Kenye, general secretary of the official NPF. “There were three or four contenders for the CM’s post. We consulted all 38 MLAs and held several committee meetings and took the opinion of the 5,000 NPF members. Zeliang had absolute support, so we didn’t hesitate in pushing his candidature forward. Six months later, this group is trying to take over.”

Both factions call themselves the real NPF. The breakaway group has nine of the 38 MLAs under Wangnao; the original faction is headed by Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu. “We have suspended the active membership of nine MLAs including Aye and Wangnao. This means we have 29 MLAs,’’ Kenye says.

Should there be a confidence motion, each side claims the numbers. Sources in the official camp admit, however, that even among the remaining 29 MLAs, 13 will back the dissidents. Zeliang himself says he will cross 30 in the 60- MLA House, evidently banking on the support of other parties.

For the rebel camp, Aye says, “I have the support of 22 MLAs out of 38 of the NPF.”

The cabinet has asked for a special assembly session; the governor has not yet announced one. The rebels too have approached the governor, asking for Zeliang’s removal. “MLAs have lost confidence in my good friend T R Zeliang and approached me to take up the leadership of Nagaland, and I accepted,” Aye says.

Apart from accusing Zeliang of nonperformance, the rebels have lodged an FIR alleging transfer of Rs 78 crore to Zeliang’s accounts in foreign banks. “These are fabricated allegations and I welcome any investigating agency to look into the matter,” Zeliang says.