Gauhati High Court rejects plea to keep suspended NPF MLAs off Nagaland assembly

KOHIMA: The Kohima bench of the Gauhati High Court has rejected interlocutory applications of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) that sought keeping seven of its suspended MLAs off the 60-member Nagaland assembly.

The two applications were rejected in view of a pending final verdict on a plea by the seven MLAs challenging the basis of a writ petition pertaining to their disqualification.

The suspended MLAs include Toyang Chang, EE Pangteang, CL John, Kejong Chang, BS Nganlang Phom, N Thongwang Konyak and Eshak Konyak.

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The NPF had suspended the seven legislators from the party’s membership in April 2019 for defying its decision to support Congress candidate KL Chishi in the Lok Sabha elections. They supported a candidate fielded by the ruling alliance of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP.

The court in its ruling said there was “no merit” in giving a judgement restraining the seven MLAs from attending the assembly session as the petition regarding their disqualification was pending.

Nagaland assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumar had dismissed the NPF’s disqualification petition in July 2020.