Neiphiu Rio, along with the council of ministers, creates history by taking oath at the Kohima Local Ground in full public view for first time in Nagaland’s political history on Thursday to form the next government in the State.
Apart from Rio, the ten ministers whose names earlier approved by State Governor P B Acharya who took oath include C M Chang of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), G Kaito Aye of Janata Dal (United), Neiba Kronu of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), P Pangnyu Phom of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), P Paiwang Konyak of Bharitiya Janata Party (BJP), Jacob Zhimomi of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Metsubu Jamir of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Tongpang Ozukum (Independent), V Kashiho Sangtam of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Temjen Imna Along of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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The venue also holds significance as the announcement of Nagaland’s statehood on December 1 in the year 1963 was made from the same ground by the then President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
Rio, who floated the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) just ahead of the Assembly Elections, had managed to rope in BJP for a pre-poll alliance with the latter snapping ties with Naga People’s Front (NPF).
Rio was with outgoing Chief Minister T R Zeliang in NFP before he walked out to form NDPP following issues with Zelianf voer the Chief Minister’s chair.
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The NDPP bagged 17 seats, while the BJP got 12. The NDPP laid claim to form the government with the support of 32 MLAs.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah along with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh and newly elected Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma were present at the oath-taking ceremony.