Nagaland CM Faces Rebellion, Cracks The Whip On Dissidents

Kohima :Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang on Tuesday faced an open rebellion with dissident NPF legislators claiming they have elected a new leader following which he sacked two ministers who were also suspended with five other MLAs from primary membership of ruling Naga People’s Front. More than 20 of 38 NPF dissident legislators, who are demanding change in state leadership, met at Dimapur last evening and unanimously elected Industries and Commerce Ministers G Kaito Aye as the new leader of the NPF Legislature Party and “empowered him to form the new government”, NPF legislature party spokesmen Imkong L Imchen said in a statement. Cracking the whip on dissidents, Zeliang sacked Aye and Roads and Bridges Minister Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu. They were also suspended along with five other MLAs from primary membership of ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) for allegedly “conspiring to overthrow” the NPF-led government in Nagaland. “Industries and Commerce Minister G Kaito Aye and Roads and Bridges Minister Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu were removed by Chief Minister T R Zeliang last night,” an official statement said on Tuesday.