Neiphiu Rio was sworn in as Nagaland’s chief minister on Wednesday evening, 24 hours after the Union Cabinet decided to revoke President’s Rule imposed in January. Governor K Shankaranarayanan also administered oath of office to 11 others in the new Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) ministry following a communiqué from Rashtrapati Bhavan on revocation of PR.
The two-month, PR-induced break notwithstanding, this is the second straight term for both DAN and Rio, whose Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) party leads the coalition of 34 legislators including two each of BJP and NCP and four Independents. The NPF bagged 26 seats in the 60-member House while the Congress bagged 23.
“This election has shown that the people of Nagaland are with us,” Rio said in Kohima after the swearing-in. “The onus is now on us to live up to the hopes and aspirations of the Naga people.”
Though there were apprehensions in the DAN camp earlier that PR might be extended, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’s decision on Tuesday to sit in the Opposition erased doubts. Later in the day, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, met to revoke PR.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission also issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland Assembly comprising 59 newly elected legislators. Result of Surohoto constituency under Zunheboto district is still awaited as EC rescheduled re-poll at a polling station there.
{{/usCountry}}On Tuesday, the Election Commission also issued a notification for constitution of the 11th Nagaland Assembly comprising 59 newly elected legislators. Result of Surohoto constituency under Zunheboto district is still awaited as EC rescheduled re-poll at a polling station there.
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