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Rio sworn in Nagaland CM

Guwahati: A 12-member Ministry headed by Neiphiu Rio has been sworn in in Nagaland 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.”

Mr. Rio said the new DAN government would play the role of facilitator between the underground outfits and the Government of India.

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Rio sworn in Nagaland CM

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