New DAN Govt. expected on Tuesday

Kohima, Mar 09 (UNI) The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) today elected former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio as their leader and staked claim to form the next government in Nagaland before Governor K.

Sankaranarayanan.

''I have a majority of 34 elected members for the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and am confident of forming the government,'' Mr Rio told newsmen after coming out of the Raj Bhavan where he staked his claim to form the government.

He said besides 26 elected members of the Nagaland Peoples Front (which he leads), two each from BJP and NCP and four Independents were supporting the DAN to form the next government.

NPF's rival Congress bagged 23 seats and two more seats went to Independents in the 60-member Assembly, election to which was held on March 5. Result of one seat is yet to be declared.

Mr Rio said all the 34 members were present during the time of staking claim before the Governor.

''The Governor informed us about some formalities, specially revocation of President's Rule and some others, which should be completed,'' he added.

He said after completing the formalities the Governor would invite him to form the government by March 11.

The two newly elected NCP members, who were also present during the interaction with newsmen, said they had already given their commitment to DAN and brought out the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), as per which they could not back out of the commitment. They promised to extended their support to DAN.

The four Independent members, who were also present at the Raj Bhavan, told newsmen that they had extended their unconditional support to DAN and assured to continue to work for the people only with DAN.

Mr Rio thanked almighty and the people of the state for giving him another chance to provide good governance to the people and assured that DAN would provide better governance to the people.

EDS:- Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

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