Following the landslide win in the February 23 election where the Naga People’s Front(NPF) won 38 seats, the party unanimously re-elected chief minister Neiphiu Rio as the legislature party leader at a meeting held in Vivor Hotel here today. Rio’s name was proposed by veteran regional leader from Mon Noke Konyak(43 Tapi A/C)) and seconded by minister of roads and bridges G.Kaito Aye(36 Satakha A/C).
According to Abu Metha, press secretary to the chief minister, after the NPF legislature party meeting, another meeting was held with Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) partners- NPF,BJP and JD(U) in the same hotel.
At the combined DAN legislature party meeting, Rio was formally elected as the DAN leader. Rio’s name was proposed by BJP member P.Paiwang Konyak(41 Tizit A/C) and seconded by JD(U)member B.S.Nganglang(49 Tamlu A/C).
Planning minister T.R.Zeliang(7 Peren A/C) chaired the NPF legislature party and later DAN legislature party meetings held separately in the hotel.
The DAN legislature party meeting was attended by NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, NPF secretary general K.G. Kenye and State BJP president M. Chuba Ao and National General Secretary-JD(U) in-charge of Nagaland Arun Kumar Srivastava as special observers.
NPF sources also said Rio was expected to meet Governor Nikhil Kumar in the next few days to stake claim to form the next DAN government.
The combined DAN coalition has 40 members in a house with an effective strength of 59, after election to 53 Tuensang Sadar-I assembly constituency was adjourned following the death of sitting Congress member P.Chuba Chang. The election has been re-scheduled to March 23.
With 2/3rd majority of 40 members, the DAN coalition will be in a position to enact and pass legislations without hurdles.
It may be pointed out that the existing Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), unless sooner dissolved, would continue up to March 17 next and thereafter stand dissolved on expiration of its duration.
BJP wants berth
President Mon district BJP T.Phomching has appealed to chief minister Neiphiu Rio to accommodate P.Paiwang Konyak,lone BJP winner from 41 Tizit assembly constituency as a minister with “plum cabinet portfolio”.
Phomching said this would enable Paiwang to serve the people of the state in general and his constituency in particular besides strengthening Rio’s leadership.
Phomching also claimed that the NDA would come to power at the Centre and therefore, it would be “more beneficial” for Nagaland to have a BJP in Rio’s cabinet.
Mon BJP also congratulated Rio on successfully leading DAN to its third consecutive election victory and said it will be grateful if its request was acceded.
NCP keen to join
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) with four elected members, held a meeting in the residence of Dr.T.M.Lotha in Kohima Friday morning, where he was unanimously elected as the NCP legislature party leader.
According to Dr Lotha, who was elected from 38 Wokha assembly constituency, the newly elected members who attended the meeting-Mmhonlumo Kikon from 40 Bhandari assembly constituency ,A.Imtilemba from 52 Longkhim-Chare assembly constituency and L.Khumo Khiamniungan from 57 Thonoknyu assembly constituency also expressed willingness to be part of the next DAN coalition government.
Meanwhile, sources also told Nagaland Post that some of the seven Independent members have also expressed a desire to be part of the DAN coalition.
In case the NCP(4 ) and Independent(7)members join the DAN, the tally would shoot up to 51.
The opposition Congress had won only 8(eight seats) out of 56 it had contested.In the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Congress had 21 MLAs. In 2003, the party had 21 MLAs.
NPF youth appeal
NPF Youth Wing, Dimapur division has appealed to NPF higher authority for granting a cabinet berth to any of the party MLAs elected from the district in the new government.
NPF Youth Wing, Dimapur president Atoka Awomi maintained that Dimapur has not been represented in the ministry for a long time and this time the NPF has performed well winning two out of five seats.
He has urged the party leadership not neglect Dimapur district but to “boost the faith” that the people had in the party.
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