Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang Resigns, Neiphiu Rio's Swearing-in on Thursday
Rio's cabinet is expected to feature the participation of BJP MLAs in equal proportion. Senior BJP legislator Y Patton is expected to be sworn in as the deputy CM.
Kohima, Mar 6: Nagaland's incumbent Chief Minister T R Zeliang, who has been leading the state since 2003 - except for a brief absence in 2008 and 2017 - submitted his resignation to Governor P Acharya on Tuesday. Zeliang would be replaced by former CM Neiphiu Rio.
In the election results declared last week, Rio's newly formed Nationalist Progressive Democratic Party (NPDP) won 17 of the 60 seats, whereas, its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bagged 12 constituencies. The coalition was later extended support by the lone JD(U) MLA elected, along with two independents, bringing their tally beyond the halfway mark.
Meanwhile, the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) of Zeliang, which had upto 50 legislators in its camp in 2015, was restricted to 26 seats -- four short of majority.
Till last year, Rio and Zeliang were part of the ruling NPF. However, the former stormed out of the party over the growing differences with Zeliang.
The BJP, which was in alliance with Zeliang's NPF over the past 15 years, broke away after failing to reach a pre-poll agreement before the elections. The party, instead joined hands with Rio's NPDP.
Post the election results, Zeliang pitched for a larger coalition involving the BJP, NPDP and his party NPF, leaving virtually no room for the Opposition. In his meeting with the Governor on Sunday, Zeliang was reportedly told: "The role of Opposition is essential in a democracy."
Rio's cabinet is expected to feature the participation of BJP MLAs in equal proportion. Senior BJP legislator Y Patton is expected to be sworn in as the deputy CM.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2018 06:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).