DIMAPUR, July 16 ? Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has rewarded JD (U) leader Deo Nukhu, a former minister and one of the two legislators of the party in the state Assembly with deputy chairmanship of State Planning Board with Cabinet status. Political observer in the State are of the view that Rio has rewarded Nukhu for embarrassing his party president Huska Sumi for dismissing the latter?s statement that the party had withdrawn support to the Rio Government.
Nukhu, a first timer who opened the account of Samata Party in Nagaland winning the prestigious Chizami seat under Phek district was a minister in the present DAN government till the implementation of downsizing exercise. With the merger of Samata party with JD (U), he now represents JD (U) in the 60-member state Assembly. Further, a communication from CM?s office said veteran legislator Kihoto Hollohon was made political adviser to Chief Minister Rio while Chenlom Phom was made adviser for Backward Areas, both of Cabinet ranks.
Other former ministers rewarded by the Chief Minister were MC Konyak of BJP who was made chairman of MARCOFED, Nyemli Phom appointed chairman of Nagaland Handloom & Handicraft Corporation, the lone former Pochury minister Yitachu made chairman of State Mineral Development Corporation, Hukavi made chairman of Nagaland Khadi & Village Industries Board while S Heno has been appointed chairman of Nagaland Industrial Raw Materials & Supply Corporation.
Rio may have chosen Deo Nukhu based on his commitment to him as well as DAN conglomeration but supporters of Huska Sumi, a veteran Naga legislator and former agriculture minister in the present government, would obviously perceive it as a reward to Nukhu after the recent row over the remark made by Huska?s supporters that the party had pulled out of DAN government. Huska?s supporters as well as party leaders of JD (U) have accused Nukhu of making a deal with Rio to sideline the former after he (Huska) had strongly protested against Rio?s decision to exclude JD (U) legislators from the new Council of Ministers.
In fact, Rio made Nukhu deputy chairman of SPB with Cabinet rank, overlooking several veteran legislators including Tiameren of BJP. Sources said that this is the second time that Huska had been shunted out by Rio ? the first time being when Huska was outfoxed by Rio and his colleagues from the Congress in the race for presidentship of NPF; when Rio sidelined Huska, despite his stature in Naga politics, his experience, efficiency and integrity.
P Chuba Chang, an independent legislator and another axed minister of the Rio-led DAN government who rushed to Tuensang to cool down public uprising by his supporters and members of Chang tribe, following his exclusion, has successfully contained the uprising. But large number of Chuba?s supporters has cautioned Rio that if this time too P Chuba was not given some good post they would boycott his government and work towards forming another government.
Informed sources said Chuba Chang is under mounting pressure from the public in Tuensang to leave the DAN conglomeration unless Rio makes him ?at least an adviser or vice-chairman or director of some board or corporation with cabinet or state minister rank?.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Chief Minister is however, unlikely to select Tiameren and Huska Sumi for any adviser?s post immediately following murmurs of rebellion by their supporters. ?Anyway, they are no small fries. They are some of the tallest leaders of Nagaland and are unlikely to accept demotion to such adviser level and other posts long served by outsiders. They would rather be MLA or ministers which their electorate wanted than be advisers, etc.?, said a political observer who has long association with the two senior leaders.