Nagaland: Disqualification petition against 7 NCP MLAs dismissed

The dismissal of the charges was based on Election Commission's ruling in favour of the Ajit Pawar faction on February 6

In a big sigh of relief for the 7 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs of Nagaland, the disqualification petition filed against them by their party has been dismissed by the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly Sharingain Longkumer.

In September last year, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar had filed a petition seeking disqualification of party MLAs in Nagaland–Er Picto Shohe, P Longon, Namri Nchang, Y Mhonhemo Humtsoe, S Toiho Yeptho, Y Mankhao konyak and A Pongshi Phom for alleged anti-party activities.

It alleged that these MLAs sided with Ajit Pawar, who rebelled against party chief Sharad Pawar in July 2023 to join the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition in Maharashtra.

The Nagaland Legislative Assembly Sharingain Longkumer came out with the ruling on February 16. The dismissal of the charges was based on the Election Commission’s ruling in favour of the Ajit Pawar faction on February 6.

The Speaker said that as per the decision of the ECI, supporting the “legitimate leader of the Political Party of NCP” did not amount to anti-party activities or voluntarily giving up membership of the party.

As such, proceeding with the case will be “infructuous”, the speaker stated.

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