The Hindu : National : Rio sworn in Nagaland Chief Minister

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Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
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Rio sworn in Nagaland Chief Minister

Sushanta Talukdar

11 Ministers also sworn in
13 legislators sworn in parliamentary secretaries

Guwahati: A 12-member Ministry headed by Neiphiu Rio was sworn in in Nagaland on Wednesday as the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland assumed office for the second consecutive term after the Union Cabinet decided to revoke President’s rule in the State.

Thirteen legislators were also sworn in parliamentary secretaries.

Following the revocation of President’s rule, Governor K. Sankaranarayanan invited Mr. Rio to form the government. He administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Rio and his Ministers at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima in the afternoon.

Of the 11 Ministers, all of them in the Cabinet rank, eight were from the major constituent of the DAN — the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), one each from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Nationalist Congress Party and one independent. The 13 parliamentary secretaries included eight from the NPF, one each from the BJP and the NCP and three independents. The DAN comprises 26 members from the NPF, two each from the BJP and the NCP. It has the support of five independents.

After assuming the office of the Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, Mr. Rio told The Hindu over telephone that the new DAN government would soon constitute a Political Affairs Committee to contact all underground outfits and the civil society groups to foster unity among all sections of the Naga family.

He said the priority of his government would be to pursue the same policy of “peace for development and development for peace.”

Underlining the need for ending the six decade-old Naga problem, Mr. Rio said the new DAN government would play the role of facilitator between the underground outfits and the Government of India.

The DAN claims the support of 35 legislators in the 60-member House. The Congress has won 23 seats and has the support of one independent. The last seat, the result of which was pending, has been won by an independent. The final party position is as follows:

Total seats – 60, results declared – 60, NPF – 26, Congress – 23, NCP – 2, BJP – 2 and independents -6.

President’s Rule was imposed in the State on January 3 after Mr. Rio-led previous DAN government was dismissed about two months before its term was to end.

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