Congress joined DAN government, while first time in history, Chakhesang was not given Minister

KOHIMA, May 8 (NEPS): Chief Minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang has created history of sort by inducting main Opposition Congress lawmakers into his Council of Ministers fulfilling his repeated assurances that he would have an “Opposition-less government” in Nagaland.

It is also another history that for the first time, a major tribe Chakhesang did not find a Ministerial berth in Zeliang Ministry, for the fact that all the Chakhesang legislators from Phek district are from ruling NPF. The resentment of the Chakhesang legislators could be seen today as they, except, Azo, did not attend today’s “Swearing-in ceremonies.” They were reported to have expressed their displeasure at the manner in which they were neglected this time. In fact, the very vacant Cabinet post was caused after Azo was dropped.

But Chief Minister, when asked by press people, opined that the Speaker post went to Chakhesang and even an Adviser to the Chief Minister with a Cabinet status also went to Chakhasang. The Speaker was often invited in most of the Cabinet Meetings as a special invitee, he pointed out telling that one should not look at tribal line but the people who could deliver for the welfare of the people should also be appointed.

Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya had administered the “oath taking ceremony” to the newly appointed three Ministers at Kohima Raj Bhavan today. Tokheho Yepthomi, leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), was sworn-in as Cabinet Minister, while Parliamentary Secretaries Y Vikheho Swu and Yitachu have also been elevated to Cabinet Ministers.

Congress has eight MLAs and their participation in the NPF-led DAN government in Nagaland was doing the round ever since they voted in favor of “Confidence Motion” moved by Chief Minister TR Zeliang on February 5 last. Since then Zeliang had been telling that he would have an “Opposition-less government” in Nagaland while CLP leader Yepthomi also hinted their participating in the NPF-led DAN government in Nagaland.

BJP, a key ally of the NPF-led DAN government, has been vocal that they would not go together with the Congress explaining that they had different political ideologies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs the BJP-led NDA government at the Center where the Congress functions as main Opposition. Even BJP President Amit Shah while visiting Nagaland declared that BJP could never go together with the Congress.

Asked about his stand on taking Opposition Congress in his DAN Ministry, Zeliang said it was a dream of the Naga people that they would now have an Opposition-less government in Nagaland. All political parties had a common agenda incorporated in their “election manifestoes” that was for the solution to the protracted Naga political issue. Therefore, when they all had come together by participating in the government was only strengthening that “common” struggle for solution to their problem, he explained.

Asked whether the BJP, an ally of ruling DAN, would walk away as the Opposition Congress became part of DAN, the Chief Minister said he did not know what they would take their stand following the induction of Congress lawmakers in DAN. But they should reconsider such thinking because they all were with the same political mission and for the welfare of the people of Nagaland, he added.