Rio sworn in as CM for 3rd term

Governor Nikhil Kumar along with chief minister Neiphiu and the newly inducted cabinet ministers after the oath taking ceremony in Kohima.

11 other NPF MEMBERS ADMINISTERED OATH AS MINISTERS
DAN legislature party leader Neiphiu Rio (63) was sworn in for a third straight term as chief minister of Nagaland Tuesday along with 11 ministers by the governor at a function at the Raj Bhavan, Kohima. 

All the 11 ministers were from Naga People’s Front (NPF) which had won 38 seats in the 60-member house supported by two alliance partners - BJP and JD (U) with one MLA each. The DAN has the unconditional support of 7 Independents.

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 ceremony.

After the swearing in ceremony, the portfolios of Rio’s council of ministers along with that of parliamentary secretaries were announced in the evening. 

The chief minister would also now holds the portfolio of finance, personnel & administrative reforms and any other portfolio(s) not allotted to any ministers. 

Governor Nikhil Kumar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rio followed by his ministers. As speculated, the names of the 11 ministers were Noke Konyak, T. R. Zeliang from 6 Tening retained planning & co-ordination minister’s post with additional charge of evaluation, geology & mining minister’s post.

The speculation that the former home minister Imkong L. Imchen would be given a lower portfolio came true with G. Kaito Aye from 36 Satakha who was the former road & bridges minister elevated to the post of the home minister (political, police, general administration, secretariat administration).

Imkong L. Imchen has now been given health & family welfare portfolio while Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu who held the same post during DAN II has now been given roads & bridges with additional charge of parliamentary affairs.

Former speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie 8 Western Angami A/C has now been awarded with the ministerial post of public health engineering while 37 Tyui A/C representative Y. Patton got elevated to forest, border affairs’ post from being a parliamentary secretary in the last government.

Lok Sabha MP C.M. Chang who has recently resigned from the Lok Sabha after being elected from 51 Noksen on an NPF ticket has been given the post of minister for school education while MLA from 48 Moka A/C E.E. Pangteang got tourism, art & culture, election portfolio. S. Pangnyu representing 50 Longleng A/C has also been elevated from being parliamentary secretary for rural development and REPA to minister of industries & commerce.

The youngest elected NPF member of the assembly Merentoshi R. Jamir (32), a first timer has been given the ministerial berth of youth resources & sports, labour & employment. It was learnt that some senior NPF elected members were not happy for awarding a cabinet berth to Merentoshi R. Jamir.

Cabinet status for 4
NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu and former urban development & higher technical education minister who did not contest this time in favour of his son Khriehu Liezietsu from 10 Northern Angami-I A/C has also been rewarded with a post of cabinet rank as the chairman of DAN & convenor of PAC.

P. Longon from 56 Noklak who had reportedly declined to accept the offer of the post of speaker has been given the post of chairman, state planning board (cabinet status) while Naiba Konyak of 55 Tobu got the post of advisor, DUDA (cabinet status). 

As reported earlier, Chingwang Konyak had been rewarded with the post of advisor to chief minister – political (cabinet status). 

21 Parl. secretaries
Unlike speculations of having 18 posts for parliamentary secretaries before the announcement, Rio and his senior members of the selection team have increased the number to 21.

They are Kejong Chang for the post of jail, home guards, village guards, DB/GB; Yitachu for veterinary & animal husbandry; C. Kipili Sangtam for power; Deo Nukhu for higher education, state council of education research & training; T. Torechu for economic & statistic, excise, legal metrology & consumer protection; Pohwang for fire & emergency services, relief & rehabilitation; Pukhayi for cooperation, women development, sericulture; Neiba Kronu for horticulture; R. Tohanba for civil administrative works; C.L. John for rural development & rural employment & poverty alleviation; Vikho-o Yhoshü for Housing; Neikiesalie Nicky Kire for justice & law, land revenue; Nuklutoshi for mechanical, national highways; Shetoyi for soil & water conservation, fisheries; P. Paiwang Konyak for transport; B.S. Nganlang for land resources; Zhaleo Rio for urban development; Dr. Benjongliba for agriculture; Y. Vikheho Swu for irrigation & flood control; Kropol Vitsu for information & public relations, printing & stationery and Tovihoto Ayemi for information technology & communication, technical education, science & technology.

It is worth mentioning that all the former parliamentary secretaries of DAN II government who won the February 23 elections have been accommodated in the list. Of the total number of NPF winning candidates (38) who could not make it to either of the list include - Namri Nchang  from 6 Tening who has been given the chance to be the pro-tem speaker; Khriehu Liezietsu from 10 Northern Angami 1; Dr.Longrinuken from 29 Jangpetkong and N. Thongwang from 46 Mon Town. Chotisuh Sazo from 18 Chozuba has been offered the post the speaker.