Kohima/New Delhi, Jan 4  : Terming the proclamation of President's Rule in Nagaland as "a murder of democracy," outgoing Nagaland Chief Minister Nephieu Rio on Friday threatened to challenge the Centre's decision in the Supreme Court.

Commenting on Rio's statement, a Congress leader in the state said: "He (Rio) is singing an old song", adding, "democracy has been murdered in Assembly and he has been paid back in his own coin."

Meanwhile, welcoming the imposition of President's Rule in Nagaland, the state Congress Legislature Party leader I Imkong on Friday said that at last justice was delivered "even at the late hour."

Last night, President Pratibha Patil gave her consent for the imposition of President's Rule in Nagaland just a few weeks before the state was supposed to go for Assembly polls.

Talking about the purpose of the President's Rule, Imkong said it was "important for upholding the Constitution and Rule of Law."

In December, the opposition Congress party in the State had demanded the dismissal of the Neiphiu Rio Government, alleging Constitutional impropriety on the part of the State Assembly Speaker for giving a controversial ruling on a Congress sponsored no-confidence motion against the State Government.

Congress legislators had also submitted a memorandum to President Patil in this regard.

In the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, whose strength was reduced to 55 after the resignation of five MLAs in 2007, Imkong had claimed the support of 31 legislators in the
60-member Assembly, including 17 from the Congress, two from the JD (U), three independents and nine from the ruling Nagaland Peoples' Front.

Commenting on the fallout of the State Government in Nagaland, Imkong said: It was really a unique experience, as the ruling party members joined hands with the Opposition to throw their own government."

When asked whether the Congress Party may form the government in the state before the next Assembly elections, Imkong said that it is possible provided the Governor invites his party to form the government.

In 2003 Assembly elections, the Congress emerged as a single largest party with 21 seats, followed by the NPF winning 19, the BJP seven, Nagaland Democratic Movement (NDM) five, JD (U) three, Independent and others five.

With the defection of the seven Congress MLAs to the NPF, and the merger of the five NDM and one Samata Party MLA, the total strength of the NPF Government reached
32.

With the BJP and other parties too backing it, the NPF initially enjoyed the support of 43 members in the House of sixty. (ANI)