Arch Rivals Congress And BJP To Be Partners In NPF Led Ministry In Nagaland

12 March, Kohima

In a first of its kind in the country, archrivals ”Congress and BJP” will work together in a ruling combine.

The Naga Peoples Front (NPF) led Democratic Alliance ofNagaland (DAN) is going to include the Congress legislators inthe ministry of which the saffron party is already taking part.

The move comes close on the heels after the Congress voted in favour of the confidence motion in support of Chief Minister T R Zeliang on January 20, DAN Spokesperson and Parliamentary Secretary Yitachu said in a statement here.

The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee had said arrangementsfor placing Congress MLAs in the government would be discussedright after the Budget Session of the Nagaland Assemblyscheduled from March 17.

Yitachu said the NPF, led by Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu andT R Zeliang, had no problem working with the Congress and the BJP as partners at the state level, despite objection from the BJP at the national level.

In Nagaland, BJP is already a part of the DAN coalition with one Parliamentary Secretary in the ministry. Yitachu reasoned that ”if it is good for the state, there should not be any objection of any party at the national level.”

The arrangement to accommodate Congress legislators, who otherwise were confined to the Opposition bench, is a recompense for the eight MLAs, who voted in favour of Zeliang during the floor test held on January 20 Special Assembly Session.

The chief minister had sought the confidence of the House following demands of the dissident NPF group which claimed to have majority. During voting all the 59 legislators of the 60-Member Assembly cast their ballots in favour of Zeliang,which was national record.

According to Congress sources the party has demanded two portfolios in the Cabinet–Urban Planning and Road and Bridges and among other demands.