DIMAPUR, July 7 ? Outgoing power minister and veteran BJP leader Tiameren and outgoing social security & welfare minister K Hollohon, heavyweight JD(U) leader and agriculture minister Huska Sema failed to make it to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio?s team of 12 ministers including the CM, which was announced today to complete the ?downsizing exercise? under a new law passed by the the parliament. Senior BJP ministers MC Konyak as well as independent candidate and outgoing education minister Chuba Chang and Samata Party leader Deo Nukhu, also failed to get into Rio?s favoured eleven excluding CM among DAN legislators.
Another blow to the BJP came in the shape of senior leader Dr. TM Lotha being denied the prestigious Home portfolio this time and instead sent out to the Agriculture ministry. Sources said that Rio was not satisfied with Lotha?s performace as Home Minister but had to retain him under pressure from BJP leaders. However, in a development which has raised eyebrows and is likely to author bad blood among dropped ministers, independent candidate Imkong Imchen has found himself in Rio?s hand-picked team. Similarly, new BJP legislator Imtilemba Sangtam has been retained as minister while senior BJP leader Tiameren found himself clean bowled by Rio.
Governor Shyamal Datta on the advice of the Chief Minister Rio accepted the resignations of 20 Cabinet ministers and two Ministers of State while the resignations of 11 ministers retained by Rio, have not been accepted. A day before the last date of downsizing the ministry to 15 per cent of the total strength (60) of the state?s Assembly, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio downsized or ?right-sized? his jumbo-sized 34-member ministry. But signs of a gathering revolt have started with massive public protest in Tuensang and angry reaction from JD(U) party leaders who said that they were denied admission into Chief Minister?s residence when they had tried to meet the CM today. Several outgoing ministers who were denied ministerial berths despite their seniority and excellent performance during the recent Lok Sabha polls, said that they have been badly cheated because they thought that performance and seniority would be counted in selection of new Council of ministers.
The dropped ministers are likely to hold a meeting soon to discuss their next course of action. One of the ministers even said that Rio had denied his tribe justice because his tribe had the largest number of legislators but only a few figured in the list of ministers. Meanwhile, Tuensang town witnessed a massive protest rally yesterday in protest against non-inclusion of P Chuba Chang in the 12-member Council of Ministers chosen by Chief Minister Rio. The Chang Khulie Setshang (CKS), apex organization of the Changs, organized the rally because of non-induction of Chuba Chang. All shops and educational institutions remained closed in Tuensang as news of Chang?s non inclusion reached Tuensang. Even the powerful Chang Students? Union joined the rally saying that dropping Chuba Chang is a grave error committed to the tribe and the people of Tuensang.
?Tuensang Sadar 1 being the most prestigious constituency represents all tribes inhabiting Tuensang district and P Chuba Chang has the mandate of the majority of the people. That is why he was elected twice with independent ticket?, said an angry protestor and said that junking Chang was an insult to the people of Tuensang. The silent procession culminated at Chuba Chang?s residence.