The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Thursday issued a show cause notice to eight of its central office-bearers for questioning the decision of the party to suspend the seven of its “erring MLAs”.
The party asked the eight office bearers to show cause as to why the disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for openly questioning and challenging the decision of the party, which, it said, is total breach of party discipline. They have been asked to submit their reply within seven days from the publication of the show cause notice.
Also read: Nagaland: Seven NPF legislators suspended for supporting rival candidate
NPF disciplinary action committee convenor Blaise Iheilung and secretary Tsumongo Ovung issued the show cause notice.
The NPF disciplinary action committee said the eight office bearers have also questioned the party’s decision to file disqualification petition against the seven “erring MLAs” who openly defied the party’s collective decision in the recently concluded parliamentary election for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland.
The eight office bearers are S. Akang, general secretary (central), Nokshom, secretary (central), Bendang Chang, secretary (central), Honpha, general secretary, youth wing (central), Kupwang, general secretary, youth wing (central), Yongwem, Shanyei and Manlem, members, central executive committee.
In a separate statement, the NPF expressed surprise that some of its central office bearers, through a press release published in local dailies on Thursday, expressed their opinion against the decision of the party authority to suspend the seven rebels MLAs and file disqualification petition against them in the Speaker’s office.
“As far as the matter of disqualification petition is concerned, the ball is now in the Speaker’s court,” the party said and added it does not feel it necessary to give a detailed write-up.
“However, the opinion expressed by some of the office bearers should have been actually vindicated instead of issuing a press statement. This attitude of some of the office bearers is unbecoming and against the party ethics and discipline,” the statement said.
The eight office bearers on Wednesday appealed to the NPFleadership to revoke the suspension order of seven MLAs and also withdraw the disqualification petitions filed with the Assembly Speaker’s office.
The joint statement issued by the eight expressed shock that the party decided to file disqualification petitions against seven NPF legislators who “dared” to maintain the true spirit of regionalism in the state by openly supporting Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party candidate in recently held Lok Sabha election in the state.