Congress cries foul over Nagaland trust vote

Congress-led Nagaland Progressive Alliance on Tuesday claimed majority in the state assembly and paraded 30 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil.

Crying foul over the defeat of the no confidence motion against the Neiphu Rio government, Congress-led Nagaland Progressive Alliance on Tuesday claimed majority in the state assembly and paraded 30 MLAs before President Pratibha Patil.

HT Image

AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva favoured dissolution of the Assembly in Nagaland where elections are due in February. She said the MLAs would not leave the capital till the Centra takes any action.

The delegation of legislators from the northeastern state, led by Leader of Opposition I Imkong met Patil and demanded immediate dismissal of the Rio government claiming that its existence was "unconstituional".

"We demanded that the illegal Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government be dismissed," Imkong told reporters in New Delhi. The comments came after the ruling DAN survived a no confidence motion moved by Opposition parties in the assembly on December 13.

The Congress along with dissident members of the Nagaland People's Front (NPF), some of whom were ministers in the Rio government, have formed the NPA. The NPA claims that the DAN have lost majority in the state assembly following defection of nine NPF MLAs.

Nagaland Speaker had ruled the votes of nine NPF MLAs invalid citing defiance of party whip. Alva contended that the anti-defection law came into force only after votes were cast.

Alva said Nagaland Governor has sent two "very strong" reports to the Centre and the Cabinet may take up the matter at its next meeting.