The Hindu : Front Page : Congress not to stake claim in Nagaland

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Wednesday, Mar 12, 2008
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Congress not to stake claim in Nagaland

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The Congress on Tuesday formally announced that it would not stake claim for forming a new government in Nagaland as it did not have the numbers, paving the way for the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF)-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) to form the next government in Nagaland.

The Congress has won 23 of 59 results declared so far and claims the support of one independent legislator but is still short of seven legislators to achieve the magic number of 31 in the 60-member House. Result of one constituency — Suruhoto in Zunheboto district — is still awaited where re-polling was conducted in four booths on Tuesday. Counting of votes will be taken up on Wednesday.

AICC secretary in-charge of Nagaland, Siddharth Patil, made the announcement at a press conference after the newly-elected party legislators, who met at Kohima, re-elected I. Imkong as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP).

Earlier on Sunday, 34 legislators led by DAN leader and the former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio presented themselves before the Governor to stake claim to form a new government in the State. Of the 34 DAN legislators, NPF has 26, Bharatiya Janata Party-2 and Nationalist Congress Party-2 besides four independents.

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland Assembly and forwarded it to Governor K. Sankaranarayanan. However, the Governor has not extended a formal invitation to the DAN as the Centre is yet to revoke the President’s Rule in the State. Raj Bhavan sources said the Union Cabinet was likely to take a decision on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Rio told The Hindu that one more independent legislator had pledged his support to the DAN, taking its numbers to 35. He said he was awaiting a formal invitation from the Governor.

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