GUWAHATI: Two days after severing its ties with the BJP, the Naga People's Front (NPF) on Thursday appealed to the Church in Christian-majority Nagaland to stand guard against a saffron surge. Prior to this, the NPF and the BJP had been allies for years.An NPF resolution adopted in Kohima appealed to "all churches throughout Naga-inhabited areas to be aware of elements trying their best to thrust the trishul into the heartland of Christ." It asked the Nagas "to be extra vigilant in the coming days considering that some of our leaders are being manipulated and enticed by these alien elements with seats of power."NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu , who on Tuesday was replaced by TR Zeliang as chief minister of Nagaland, was equally unsparing. He accused the BJP of engineering the political crisis in Nagaland to destabilize the NPF with an eye on next year's assembly election. He alleged that the BJP, which had backed Zeliang against him, was trying to repeat the modus operandi that helped it capture power in Arunachal Pradesh.A meeting of the NPF's central executive committee, held in the Nagaland capital, condemned governor PB Acharya for his "unconstitutional, arbitrary and illogical action" in dismissing the Shurhozelie-led government. It added that the governor acted "like the leader of the NPF dissident legislators" and "converted the hallowed grounds of Raj Bhavan into the headquarters of the BJP."The NPF urged all national political parties "to stop forthwith their unholy tendencies to destabilize regional political party governments in the region." It said the NPF is the "torchbearer of Naga identity as well as Indian nationalism in the Naga areas."Nagaland BJP president Visasolie Lhoungu declined to comment on the NPF's allegations. He said, "We have learnt from media reports that the NPF has severed its ties with us. We are yet to receive a formal communication from the NPF."Lhoungu said, "We have supported the majority faction (of the NPF), we will vote for it in Friday's floor test." He refuted reports that the BJP is trying to bring the Zeliang faction of the NPF within its fold. He added, "I cannot say what is there in the minds of our central leadership, but there is no such thing at the state level."Many felt that it would be a tightrope for both the BJP and Zeliang if they decide to join hands. "Any wrong move by either side could have cascading effects on their prospects in the next assembly elections. Liezietsu would just like to have that," one of them said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Guwahati headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.