Kohima, Sept 16: In a significant development, all the political parties of Nagaland have decided to meet on Saturday to finalise the formation of the Nagaland United Government (NUG) to solve the decade old Naga political issue.
The ruling and opposition parties of Nagaland are making efforts to bring all the political parties of Nagaland on one platform to solve the Naga political issue.
The main aim of formation of the NUG is to resolve the Naga political issue involving various outfits including the NSCN(IM).
As Nagaland is heading for an all-party government, the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) is most likely to join the NUG headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
NPF legislature party leader T.R. Zeliang said that a joint meeting of the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), NPF and Independent MLAs would be held on September 18 in Kohima to decide about the Nagaland United Government.
Zeliang said that he was optimistic that every aspect of the formation of the NUG would be finalised on Saturday and then formal letters would be given to the state Assembly Speaker and the Governor to change the nomenclature from PDA government to NUG.
All party meet gives nod for NUG
An all-party meeting comprising the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) headed by Rio, Bharatiya Janata Party, NPF and two Independent legislators was held on August 11. It agreed in principle to form an all-party government under the name of NUG.
Talking to media persons, Zeliang said, “Our aim is very clear and transparent. We have come together to resolve the long awaited Naga political issue. We wish the Naga issue is settled before Christmas.”
On September 9, Nagaland Governor RN Ravi was transferred to Tamil Nadu. He was the government’s interlocutor for the much-debated Naga peace talks, which are now in the last stages of finalisation.
Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi has been given the additional charge as Nagaland Governor.
With the backing of the central leaders the BJP, an ally of the PDA government, in principle also supported the move for an all-party government.
The NPF, which is the single largest party in Nagaland with 25 MLAs, decided to join the proposed NUG government apparently for taking forward the Naga political issue between the Centre and Naga political groups.
Led by Rio, the NDPP with 20 members and the BJP with 12 MLAs are also the leading partners of the incumbent PDA government.
Two independent members are also supporting the government while one seat is lying vacant in the 60-member Assembly after the death of an MLA.
