NEW DELHI: Thirty legislators from Nagaland met President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday evening to press for the dismissal of the Neiphiu Rio government in the State as it had lost its majority on the floor of the State Assembly.

The delegation included 16 MLAs from the Congress, nine members who crossed over from the ruling side when the motion of no-confidence against the Rio government was put to vote, two from the Janata Dal (United) and three Independents.

Though, according to the Leader of the Opposition in the Nagaland Assembly, I. Imkong, the total number of MLAs who voted against the Rio government was 31, one legislator — a Congressman — could not come to Delhi because of personal reasons.

While at first the 31 MLAs staked claim to form a government, Congress in-charge of Nagaland, Margaret Alva, said since elections were due in the State early next year, the legislators had come around to accepting President’s Rule as an alternative.

Briefing mediapersons ahead of the meeting with the President, Mr. Imkong said the Rio government had been voted out on December 13. However, he said, the Speaker refused to acknowledge the vote though 31 MLAs in a House with an effective strength of 55 had voted against the government.

“The Speaker refused to acknowledge the vote of the three Independent MLAs — who where among the legislators who moved the no confidence motion — and the nine MLAs who cross-voted. We demanded a fresh count but he refused. Immediately afterwards, all 31 MLAs went to the Raj Bhavan to inform the Governor that they had voted out the Rio government and stake claim,” Mr. Imkong said.

Pointing out that seven days had passed since the Rio government had lost its majority, Mr Imkong said the MLAs decided to come to Delhi to step up pressure on the Centre to take action against an unconstitutional regime. On Monday, they met Home Minister Shivraj Patil — who has already received a report from Governor K. Sankaranarayanan — and have sought appointments with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

During the day, they also met Ms. Alva and complained to her about the delay in action against the minority government .

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