Neiphiu Rio sworn in as Nagaland CM for 5th term, PM Modi attends

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Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio took oath as Chief Minister of Nagaland for his fifth term in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rio on Saturday had tendered his resignation as Chief Minister of Nagaland to Governor La Ganesan and staked claim to form the new government in the state.

The NDPP-BJP coalition had won a clear majority in the just concluded elections for the 14th Nagaland Assembly, with NDPP winning 25 seats and BJP winning 12.

It is worth mentioning that the government formation is the second term of the NDPP-BJP coalition in Nagaland.

The other NDPP leaders who took oaths were TR Zeliang as Deputy Chief Minister, Kaito Aye, K G Kenye, Mestubou Jamir, CL Jhon, and Salhoutuonuo Krusa.

On the hand, leaders like Y Patton, Jacob Zhimomi, Temjen Imna Along, Paiwang Konyak, and Bashangmongba Chang took the oath.

Earlier in the day, NPP president Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday took oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers, underlining the strength of the regional party in the rainbow coalition which has come to power.

Seven other MLAs from the National People's Party (NPP), two from the UDP and one each from BJP and HSPDP were also administered the oath of secrecy as ministers in Sangma's cabinet by Governor Phagu Chauhan at Raj Bhavan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and Assam Chief Minister and NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present on the occasion. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, both from the NPP, took oath as deputy chief ministers.

Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and A T Mondal were among those from the NPP who were sworn-in as cabinet ministers. BJP's A L Hek, UDP's Paul Lyngdoh and Kyrmen Shylla, and Shakliar Warjri of the HSPDP also took oath as ministers.

Interestingly the saffron party had described Sangma's government as "most corrupt" in the run up to the election but was the among the first parties to strike a post election deal to set up a government in the northeastern state.
Marcuise N Marak, Rakkam A Sangma, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon and A T Mondal were among those from the NPP who were sworn-in as cabinet ministers.

The NPP-led alliance has 45 MLAs including 26 from NPP and two from the BJP.

On Monday, 58 newly elected MLAs were sworn in as members of the assembly with pro-tem speaker Timothy D Shira administering the oath of office and secrecy to them.