Tiameren resigns from Assembly, BJP

Kohima, Oct 30 (UNI) The ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) suffered a setback when former Power Minister and present BJP legislator Tiameren Aier resigned from the Assembly and the party.

Nagaland assembly speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie has confirmed that Mr Aier, elected from Alongtaki Assembly Constitution under Mokokchung district and the Chairman of the Committee on Privileges of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, has resigned yesterday.

With the resignation of Mr Aier, the 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly has been reduced to 55. Earlier, four MLAs K Therie, Z Obed, Vatsu Meru and N Y Yeangphong Konyak of the Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF), the major coalition partner of DAN, resigned from the Assembly.

Both the JD(U) members withdrew their support from the DAN ministry, while independent candidate Mr Khutovi also withdrew their support from DAN.

The DAN coalition had 43 members with 32 members from NPF, five members from BJP, two members from JD(U) and four independents. Now, the members of DAN have been reduced to 35 with 28 NPF, four BJP and three independents. The opposition Congress has 17 members in the Nagaland Assembly.

The term of the 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly will be over by the end of February next year. The Election Commission is yet to announce the date of election to the next state assembly.

UNI