Kohima, March 26: Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Tuesday slapped showcause notices on its seven legislators for extending
support to sitting Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) MP, Tokheho Yepthomi who is seeking a re-election from the lone Lok Sabha
seat in Nagaland.

The seven rebel NPF legislators — Kejong Chang, E.E. Pangteang, Eshak Konyak, C.L. John, B.S. Nganlang, N. Thongwang Konyak and Toyang
Chang — met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday to affirm their support for Yepthomi.

In its showcasuse notice the NPF’s disciplinary action committee stated that it has taken serious note of your open revolt against the
party for extending support to Yephtomi, who is the consensus candidate of the ruling NDPP-led People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA),
which comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Janata Dal (United) and an Independent member.

The committee said that the movement and activities of the seven rebel legislators is “absolutely a total breach of party discipline and it is inimical to the party principle” which attract action under Article. XIV, para 2 Clause (b) & (c) of the NPF constitution.

The legislators have been asked to submit their reply within seven days on or before April 2 as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.

The Congress had sought NPF’s support for K.L. Chishi who had served as the Chief Minister for 28 days in 1990.

The NPF, the main Opposition in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, has not fielded anyone for the April 11 Lok Sabha polls.

“Supporting the Congress is against the principle of regionalism. The absence of a NPF candidate in the Lok Sabha elections has necessitated
our decision to extend cooperation and support to the PDA consensus candidate and the PDA government,” the rebel NPF legislators had
stated on Monday.

In 2018, Yepthomi, 66, won the by-election to the seat defeating NPF candidate C. Apok Jamir by 1,73,746 votes.

The by-election was necessitated after Neiphiu Rio quit the Lok Sabha and successfully contested the elections to the Assembly.