A day after the opposition NPF issued a statement denying reports of rift among its MLAs, 18 party legislators have written to the leader of the NPF Legislature Party T.R. Zeliang urging him to initiate “necessary steps” to “formalise necessary modalities” with the ruling NDPP for a “regional coalition” before the Lok Sabha polls.
The move is to realise “our objectives”, the letter said.
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It seems the MLAs who have signed in the letter made a proposal to the party’s legislature party leader for allying with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), which is in alliance with the BJP forming the ruling PDA coalition.
In the handwritten letter, dated March 6, the 18 NPF MLAs said they are convinced and proposed that a stable regional coalition in the state, under the present political scenario prevailing both in the state and the country, is the need of the hour so as to deliver goods to the people and also to face any eventualities in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The letter was signed by Imkong L. Imchen, Azheto Zhimomi, Moatoshi Longkumer, Kijung Chang, Amenba Yaden, Y.M. Yollow Konyak, M. Sangtam, E. Eshak Konyak, Dr Imtiwapang Aier, Er. Picto Shohe, C.L. John, Chotisuu Sazo, Y. Vikheho Swu, Yitachu, Kezhienyi Khalo, Keneizhakho Nakhro, Khriehu Liezietsu and Dr Chumben Murry.
Sources said 20 NPF legislators held a meeting in Kohima on Thursday.
A few party MLAs refrained from attending the meeting, suggesting that the rift within the opposition MLAs was getting wider.
The NPF has 26 MLAs and one of them is reported to be in Delhi undergoing treatment.
NPF secretary general and Rajya Sabha MP K.G. Kenye was reported to have mediated Thursday’s meeting which continued late in the night.
However, no concrete decision was taken, the sources said.
NPF spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon, when contacted, said the party was “yet to officially receive” the letter.
Saying that he had seen the letter which has gone viral on the social media, Kikon said the party will take up the matter on Friday.
“We are yet to understand the intention of the MLAs,” he said and added that the party would have a sitting with the legislators to understand their position.
When asked if the new developments meant another “opposition-less government,” Kikon refused to rule out such an eventuality.
“In politics, anything is possible,” he said.