Naga: Z Obed to form alternative DAN Govt

Kohima, June 2: Former Finance Minister of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland(DAN) government and suspended Nagaland Peoples Front(NPF) member K Therie has said that the majority members of the ruling combine have elected suspended NPF leader Z Obed to form an alternative DAN government.

In a political development late last night, Mr Therie said in a release he was the 'seasonal' Chairman of the DAN Legislative Party.

''In view of the worsening situation and rampant corruption in the state, the majority of DAN members have expressed loss of confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and elected Mr Z Obed as their leader to stake claim to form an alternative DAN Government in Nagaland,'' Mr Therie said.

He warned the executive offices of the state not to carry out the orders of the 'minority' government.

Chaotic conditions prevailed in the sate following reports of dissidence by 22 DAN members who submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding a change in leadership.

However, late in the evening, Agriculture Minister Kuzholuzo, along with seven Parliamentary Secretariers and two NPF legislators, submitted a memorandum to the governor expressing their confidence in and support to the leadership of Mr Neiphiu Rio.

Addressing a press conference late in the evening, Mr Kuzholuzo said the list of 22 DAN legislators was an 'old document', which was re-submitted to the Governor.

Mr Kuzholuzo said the list submitted to the Governor on Wednesday was signed in 2004 after downsizing the present ministry. It was signed by 15 NPF legislators, without mentioning the date, seeking a change in leadership. He further informed than ten of the 15 members had withdrew their support to the demand through separate letters to the Governor.

He claimed that now the suspended NPF legislators had added some new names to the old document.

He assured that there was no threat to the Rio ministry.

Meanwhile, in a separate rejoinder here today NPF press Secretary R Paphino admitted that Mr Rio and Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie, who were in New Delhi and Kerala respectively yesterday, had to rush back to Kohima following the "cheap news designed to mislead the people with ulterior motive" by some local dailies.

He informed that on May 30, four suspended NPF members and one each Congress, Independent and JD(U) members and two NPF MLAs called on the Governor and submitted a bogus paper claiming to have been signed by 22 DAN MLAs withdrawing their support from the Rio Government.

Meanwhile, the NPF legislators convened a meeting at the official residence of the chief minister today. The meeting will decide the actual strength of Rio loyalists and decide the course of action against the dissident party legislators, sources said.

UNI