Ex-CM Zeliang calls on Nagaland Guv along with supporters

Amid the political crisis in the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio and 44 MLAs, all supporters of former chief minister T R Zeliang, today called on Nagaland Governor P B Acharya who promised to uphold the Constitution.
The meeting between them was confirmed by the Raj Bhavan Public Relations Department as well as NPF MLA Imkong L Imchen.
During the meeting with the NPF and Independent legislators, the governor asserted that he would uphold the provisions of the Constitution, Imchen told PTI.
The 44 MLAs, comprising 36 from NPF, Zeliang and seven Independents, in the 60-member assembly and Rio met the governor, he said. There is one vacancy in the House.

The legislators were seen posing with Acharya in photographs of the meeting which went viral on social media, including Facebook and Whatsapp, during the day.
Zeliang, who has sought removal of Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu, called on the governor to show that over 70 per cent of the MLAs are backing him, his camp said. There is no opposition in the Assembly.

The former chief minister has garnered the support of the majority of NPF and Independent legislators and had staked claim to form a new government on July 8.
He and his supporters, who were camping at the Kaziranga National Park, returned here yesterday and are putting up at a hotel.

Earlier this year, Zeliang had to vacate the chief minister's post in the face of protests against the 33 per cent reservation for women in the election to the urban local bodies.
The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court had yesterday issued a stay order till July 17 against the July 11 and July 13 directives of the governor asking Liezietsu to seek the vote of confidence in the state assembly by today.
Liezietsu, along with his council of ministers, had met the governor yesterday evening and apprised him about the political situation.
The governor's directive to the chief minister was rejected by the state cabinet.

The matter will be taken up for hearing again on July 17 by the high court.
Liezietsu is seeking election to the House from Northen Angami seat in the July 29 by-poll, which is mandatory within six months of assuming power.