New Delhi: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang announced his decision to step down on Sunday in face of vociferous protests over local body polls that have crippled normal life in the state. A new Chief Minister was likely to be elected on Monday.
A statement from the Chief Minister's Office confirmed Zeliang was stepping down and a consensus leader will be chosen on Monday morning at Naga People's Front (NPF) Legislature Party meeting.
The NPF meeting will be followed by a meeting of DAN (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland) at 11 am.
PTI quoted an NPF source as saying that Chief Minister and sole MP from the state Neiphiu Rio, commanded the support of 49 MLAs, including eight Independents, while at least three are with party President Dr Shurhozelie Liezitsu. The three include Speaker Chotisuh Sazo.
The legislators, holed up in a resort in Assam's Kaziranga, had started leaving Kohima on Friday night as Liezietsu was preparing to stake claim to replace Zeliang soon after the arrival of Governor PB Acharya from New Delhi.
NPF sources said both Rio and Zeliang met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Saturday but they refused to divulge details. The BJP has four MLAs in the state.
Zeliang had left for Delhi on February 16 after seeking two days' time to step down from the chief ministerial post. Protests had erupted after announcement of holding ULB elections with 33 per cent reservation for women.
The Nagaland government had fulfilled the demand of Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) Kohima, declaring the entire process of Urban Local Bodies election with 33 per cent reservation for women as null and void.
Its second demand of suspending the personnel involved in January 31 police firing on the protesters leading to the killing of two youths in Dimapur has been partially fulfilled as they have been transferred.
(With PTI inputs)
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