AMN / KOHIMA

Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang today decided to step down as Chief Minister in a dramatic turn of events in the violence-hit state. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that Mr. Zeliang was stepping down and a consensus leader will be chosen on Feb 20 at Naga People’s Front Legislature Party meeting. The NPF meeting will be followed by a meeting of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland.

Yesterday, a new political crisis started in the state of Nagaland. Over 40 legislators of Naga People’s Front (NPF) party were moved to a resort in Kaziranga National Park in the neighbouring state of Assam. The MLAs wanted to replace Chief Minister T R Zeliang by former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Zeliang has been under fire for handling protests against the quota for women in urban local bodies which was then followed by violence.