Rift in CLP in Nagaland

Kohima, Jun 8 (UNI) The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly witnessed a rift as a dissident group in the 23-members CLP have demanded replacement of CLP leader I Imkong.

Party sources said here today that a total of 20 legislators, who are opposing Mr Imkong's leadership, had already submitted a signed demand to the party high command for the replacement of Mr Imkong and they wanted former Lok Sabha MP and minister Chingwang Konyak as their CLP leader.

Sources said the dissident group, which was camping at New Delhi held Mr Imkong responsible for the debacle of the party in the Assembly elections held on March 5.

Mr Imkong had also resigned from the leadership taking the responsibility of the party's debacle, but he was renominated as the CLP leader in March in the presence of AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva and Secretary Ranji Thomas.

Sources further said AICC observer Siddarth was likely to visit Nagaland tomorrow and he will attend the CLP meeting to decide the fate of Mr Imkong.

UNI AS DPM BDP VC1320