Settle dispute by convention, EC tells NPF's warring factions

GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India has refused to arbitrate in the dispute between the two warring factions of Naga People's Front (NPF), each seeking rights over the party's election symbol, cock, flag, motto and letterhead. The commission has asked the two groups to settle the dispute through a general convention as prescribed by the party's constitution.

One faction of NPF led by former chief minister and Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, which rules the state with TR Zeliang as the chief minister. The other faction is led by another former CM Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who was ousted by Zeliang after leading a dissidence for more than two weeks in July.

"ln the present case also, the Commission has directed that the two groups may first exhaust the specific mechanism provided in their own party constitution and settle the dispute internally as per provisions of Article XV of the Party Constitution, which is binding on all members and office bearers of the party...Until such recourse has been exhausted, it would not be fit for the Commission to adjudicate the matter," the commission said in its order issued to both groups on Tuesday.

The commission referred to a similar situation it had faced with NPF two years back and had directed the two factions to follow the provisions of the party constitution to resolve the dispute. The dispute then was between one group led by Shurhozelie and the dissident group by Noke Wangnao and G Kaito Aye. The general convention stood by Shurhozelie gathered the support of two-third members of the party.

Shurhozelie has now convened the central executive council meeting of NPF on October 20 to decide the date for the general convention, which is expected mid-November, for the final verdict of the party's members.

The Rio-led NPF, which is in power in the state, is a partner of BJP in NDA while the Shurhozelie has severed the ties with the national party accusing it of engineering the crisis in the NPF.

The EC order has come after Rio approached it for control of the party symbol, flag, motto and letterhead in August, claiming himself as the president of the NPF. The commission in its order has noted that as per the constitution of the NPF, the office bearers who are to be elected in the general convention of the party have a tenure for five years and "as per the list of office bearers submitted by the party in 2015, Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu was shown as the President of the party, and Shri Apong Pongener as the Working President."

Rio submitted the affidavits from MLAs supporting him, declaring their allegiance to him as the newly elected interim president of NPF and withdrawing support to Liezietsu. Rio also attached the resolution of the central executive council meeting held on August 22 affirming support to him as the only legitimate president of the NPF.

Shurhozelie in his response sought by the commission later also claimed that he is the duly elected president of the NPF and the sole person entitled to be recognized as such. He also submitted that Rio is not a member of the NPF, having been suspended from the party with effect from August 1 and the central executive council meeting convened by Rio was unconstitutional and the resolutions were passed by suspended MLAs.

The commission noted, "Both groups have filed individual affidavits from members of the Legislature Wing and the Organizational Wing of the party. Neiphiu Rio, himself a Lok Sabha MP, has filed affidavits from 27 of the 38 MLAs of the party and 31 of the 63 Central office bearers. The other group, headed by Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu has filed affidavits of 10 MLAs, 1 MP (Rajya Sabha) and 30 Central Office Bearers."

It added, "The submissions of the respective parties, together with the sets of documents submitted by each group, make it evident that there are two rival groups wishing to control the party and claim to be representing the party. It is evident that there is a split in the party, with two apparent rival groups."