NPF factions reconcile on eve of Amit Shah visit to Nagaland

The ruling NPF, which is the dominating partner in the three-party DAN coalition had suffered major internal bickering since January when senior minister G Kaito Aye revolted against chief minister TR Zeliang for allegedly failing to run the government smoothly. The dissidents had almost pulled down Zeliang but for an indirect intervention reportedly made by the BJP central leadership.

Kaito Aye and another senior dissident leader Noke Wangnao in a joint statement said the decision to reconcile and work together was taken in the greater interest of the state. They also acknowledged the Election Commission directive to amicably resolve the differences within the NPF, they said.

The NPF, which has 38 legislators in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, also has four BJP members and one JD(U) member in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition. Eight independent MLAs and the lone NCP MLA have lent outside support to it.

The BJP president, who will stay in Aizawl tonight will fly to Dimapur tomorrow, and then go to Imphal on Saturday where too he will address a public meeting, before flying back to Delhi.