12-Member DAN ministry sworn in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 12 (UNI) A twelve-member Cabinet of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was today sworn-in in an impressive function in the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan.

Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rio and other eleven ministers, in presence of Congress Legislature Party leader I Imkong and many senior bureaucrats.

While Rio kept the portfolios of Finance, P&AR, IT, Sericulture and the other portfolios were not allocated to any minister. Mr Shurhozelie got portfolio of Urban Development and Higher Education, and Mr T R Zeliang was given Planning and Coordination, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mr G Kaito was given Roads and Bridges ministry, Mr Imkong L Imchen got Home, Mr Nyeiwang Konyak received School Education and SCERT, Mr Doshehe Y Sema was alloted power and election.

Mr P Longon Soil got Water Conservation and Land Resources Development, Mr Kuzhulozo took charge of Medical and Health, Mr M C Konyak (Forest, Environment, Ecology and Wild Life), Dr Ngangshi K Ao (Public Health Engineeering) and Dr Chumben Murry got Agriculture portfolio.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Rio, at his official residence this evening, administered the oath of office and secrecy to 13 Parliamentary Secretaries, out of them four Independents, one BJP and one NCP.

Later addressing mediapersons Mr Rio said that the biggest challenges ahead of him were to unite all the Nagas into a common family, reconciliation and to facilitate to the peace process to bring a acceptable solution to the Naga political issue.

On the law and order problem in Nagaland, he said the state police force was capable to maintain law and order. He said there were certain other political problems which could not be solved without active assitance from the Central government.

He thanked the people of Nagaland for giving mandate to DAN once again and assured that it will come up to do more for development, especially in the rural areas and sought the cooperation of the people.

With the swearing-in of Mr Rio as the Chief Minister of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly he became the 19th Chief Minister since the statehood of Nagaland in 1963.

UNI AS PC SP RK2259