By IANS
New Delhi : President’s rule is likely to be imposed very soon in Nagaland with the union cabinet making a recommendation to this effect following political instability in the northeastern state, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said Thursday.
The cabinet meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Dasmunsi said the matter is with President Patil and “she has to decide on it”.
“Since President Patil is not in the capital, the cabinet recommendations have been sent to her and she may send the signed document anytime,” said government spokesperson and Dipak Sandhu.
The cabinet has been deliberating on the issue since Dec 24, said Sandhu.
The northeastern state has been facing political uncertainty and instability ever since two legislators of the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), supporting the state government, left the alliance and joined the opposition Congress-led Nagaland Progressive Alliance (NPA).
The NPF is a major ally of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) and with its two MLAs crossing over to the opposition, the government of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been reduced to a minority.
But at the time of voting, the assembly speaker disallowed the defected legislators to vote, thus saving a minority government.
The opposition members then came to the capital to lodge a protest with President Patil and also met union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, opposed the Congress demand.
BJP spokesperson and in charge of Nagaland Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: “The state assembly elections are due in less than a fortnight. Besides, if they use this as a ground to dismiss the Nagaland government, they should adopt the same standards and also dismiss the Goa government.”
In Goa, the reverse was the situation with some legislators from the Congress-led ruling front crossing over to the BJP-led opposition and also meeting the president. There too the speaker had barred the dissidents from casting their vote.
Interestingly, former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir is currently the Governor of Goa.