Rio has no moral rights to continue office: NPCC

Kohima, June 05 (UNI) The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee(NPCC) has said Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has no moral rights to remain in office since he has lost confidence of majority support following the split in ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland(DAN).

In a statement here today NPCC President Hokheto Sumi refused to accept the claim made by the Nagaland Peoples Front(NPF) that majority legislators were supporting the leadership of Mr Rio.

He asserted that the legislators who had earlier signed against Mr Rio cannot deny their involvements now. He also pulled up NPF President Shurhozelie for dragging the office of the Governor into the recent controversy in the DAN coalition.

Mr Sumi said, ''The president is now talking like a legal expert by stating that party matters should be brought before the party decide and Raj Bhavan is not supposed to decide who will be the leader of the ruling party of the coalition in power.'' He said that after Z Obed staked claim to form government, the ten NPF legislators went to Governor to withdraw their signatures they have put in support of Obed's leadership.

The statement said that Mr Shurhozelie should have not stopped the ten NPF legislators to go to Governor for withdrawal of signatures in support of Obed, if such matter can be decided within the party forum.

UNI