Neiphiu Rio, Mukul Sangma sworn in as CMs
Kohima, March 5: Neiphiu Rio was sworn in for a third straight term as Chief Minister of Nagaland on Tuesday along with 11 ministers by the Governor at a glittering function at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima.
All the eleven ministers were from his own party, the Naga People's Front (NPF), which had won 38 seats in the 60-member house.
The NPF is supported by two alliance partners, BJP and JD(U) with one MLA each, while it has the unconditional support of 7 Independents.
Governor Nikhil Kumar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 63-year-old chief minister, followed by his ministers, Noke Konyak, T. R. Zeliang, G. Kaito Aye, Imkong L. Imchen, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, C M Chang, E E Pangteang, S Pangyuh Phom and R Merentoshi Jamir.
Imchen,
who
was
Home
minister
in
the
earlier
ministry,
had
been
arrested
after
recovery
of
Rs
1.10
crore
in
cash,
arms
and
ammunition
allegedly
from
his
car
in
Wokha
district
on
February
18.
He
had
subsequently
resigned.
Rio, Noke, Zeliang, Aye, Imchen and Nienu served earlier as ministers.
Two-time Speaker Kiyaneilie Peseyie, former parliamentary secretary Yanthungo Patton, former Lok Sabha MP CM Chang, former advisor Department for Development of Backward Area EE Pangteang, former parliamentary secretary Rural Development and R Merentoshi Jamir are among six who would hold cabinet rank for the first time.
Jamir, 32, is the youngest among the ministers and the only fresh face to be given a berth.
The Chief Minister told PTI that the portfolios would be announced after the swearing in of Parliamentary Secretaries in the evening at his office.
A host of dignitaries including independent MLAs, NPF president Shurhozelie, senior bureaucrats, officers from the police and paramilitary forces and representatives of NGOs attended the swearing-in.
Mukul
Sangma
sworn
in
as
Meghalaya
CM
for
the
2nd
straight
term
Shillong:
Mukul
Sangma
was
sworn
in
as
the
23rd
chief
minister
of
Meghalaya
on
Tuesday
with
the
state
Governor
administering
the
oath
of
office
and
secrecy
to
him
at
a
grand
ceremony
in
the
Raj
Bhawan
in
Shillong.
47-year-old Mukul, who led the Congress to a spectacular victory with 29 seats in the 60-member Assembly, just two short of a simple majority, became the Chief Minister for the second straight term.
He was administered the oath of office by Governor Ranjit Sekhar Mooshahary.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Sangma said, "Our focus will only be on development, development and development because the people of the state deserve it. It will be our sincere commitment...that whatever promises we have made shall be implemented in letter and spirit."
He said that addressing the core issue of backwardness and poverty in the State would be the number one agenda of the new government.
Apart from 29 Congress MLAs, eight Independent candidates have assured of ‘unconditional' support in the government formation. So has the NCP which has won two seats.
According to a top Congress functionary, Sangma has already finalised the list of ministers in consultation with AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.
PTI