Veteran Neiphiu Rio storms back to office as Nagaland CM for record fifth term
Kohima
Nagaland scripts history on the swearing in day.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse, Western Angami NDPP legislator breaks the male bastion, makes history by becoming first woman legislator and also first woman minister in Nagaland.
The 72-year-old Neiphiu Rio stormed back to power as he was sworn fora record fifth term as the Chief Minister of the insurgency-hit state.Rio and his ministerial colleagues including BJP legislator Y Patton as Deputy Chief Minister were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor La Ganesan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the glittering function at Kohima. Ms Kruse exchanged pleasantries with Prime Minister Modi on the solemn occasion.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse won from the politically sensitive Western Angami assembly constituency -- a key segment in Angami Naga politics as the village Khonoma also falls under this. The doyen of Naga movement A Z Phizo belonged to Khonoma village.
Former Rajya Sabha member K G Kenye also made it to the cabinet while former Chief MinisterT R Zeliang also found a berth in the ministry as Deputy Chief Minister.
Kenye had hot headlines in 2019 when he voted in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill.He was suspended from the NPF and he later joined NDPP and in the election contested fromChizami seat. This segment in 2018 was in BJP quota but was taken by NDPP this time.
BJP lawmakers who made to the ministry included state unit president Temjen Imna Along,
P Bashangmongba Chang (MLA Tuensang Sadar-1), Tizit MLA from Mon district in Eastern Nagaland P Paiwang Konyak and Ghaspani I representative Jacob Zhimomi.
BJP legislators - Koridang MLA Imkong L Imchen and Kropol Vitsu from Southern Angami II -were also among the expectants but could not be accommodated.
Deputy CM Patton and Paiwang Konyak, Imna and Jacob Zhimomi were allpart of the Rio ministry from 2018.
Others who were sworn in were - G Kaito Aye, Metsubo Jamir and C L John.
Paiwang Konyak, C L John and P Bashangmongba Chang are from Eastern Nagaland.The apex ENPO has been reportedly assured by a Home ministry panel that as against theirdemand for a separate state, an autonomous Frontier Naga Territory will be granted to EasternNagaland at the earliest.
Rio is a former Congress leader and has served under veteran S C Jamir. He first becameChief Minister on March 6, 2003 heading the NPF-led coalition ministry.
He was in office in the state till June 2014 and from 2014 barring a brief spell of President's Rule. Between 2014 and March 2018 he was the state's lone member of Lok Sabha. Rio already holds the record of being the longest serving Chief Minister in Nagaland which was once infamous for political instability.
Prior to him, his onetime mentor Jamir remained in office for 10 years spanning two terms between 1993 and March 2003. Earlier only HokisheSema could be in office for five years in between 1969 and 1974.
Observers say Rio will be under tremendous pressure immediately to cater to issues related toEastern Nagaland and also pending political talks between the centre and the NSCN-IM and umbrella organisation of NNPG.
Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are keen for resolving the long pending Naga insurgency issue and analysts say they gave hints about the same during the election campaign and also on the polling day.
On the voting day on Feb 27, Mr Shah referred to the Peace process.
"While Nagaland goes to vote today (Feb 27), I urge sisters and brothers of Nagaland to ensure that the peace process that has already been initiated does not face any hurdles," tweeted the Union Home Minister.
Social activist Theja Therieh told 'Orgainser' that PM Modi will be expected todeliver on Peace and Solution to Naga issue at the earliest.
"Election is a constitutional process which has to take place and so it is done but the objective of delivery and sustenance of peace in the region remain the core issue.
The Govt of India had recognised Naga issue as political issue and therefore, the issue must be settled at the political level without which every other effort is temporary,"he said.
The goals of Peace and Solution have to be achieved to ensure a progressive and prosperous Nagaland as has been promised more than once by the Prime Minister, Therieh emphasised.
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Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, other ministers take oath in Meghalaya
New Delhi
NPP chief Conrad Sangma took oath of office as Chief Minister Meghalaya on Tuesday. Eleven other members from different parties including one member from the BJP took oath in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key central leaders.
The state Governor Phagu Chauhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.
In a letter, signed by 32 MLAs from BJP, NPP, HSPDP, and two independents extended support to NPP chief Conrad to lead the new ministry for the second term. Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. Both belong to NPP.
Alexander Laloo Hek (of BJP), Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh (NPP), Paul Lyngdoh (UDP) and Comingone Ymbon (NPP), Abu Taher Mondal, Kyrmen Shylla, Marcuise N Marak and Rakkam A Sangma took oath as ministers in the new NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government.
West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh and Khliehriat MLA, Kyrmen Shylla, are from the UDP while Shakliar Warjri belongs to HSPDP.
The solemn function was also attended among others by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and
BJP national president J P Nadda.
There was no representation from the PDF in the ministry though this regional party will also
support the new ministry. In more ways than one the new ministry in Meghalaya shows continuity
with the status quo.
In 2018 also Hek from BJP had made it to the ministry but was later replaced by
his party colleague Sanbor Shullai. This time, sources say, both the leaders have reached an
understanding to share the cabinet berth for two and a half years each.
The HSPDP also adopted the same policy whereby its two MLAs — Shakliar Warjri and
Methodius Dkhar — will share the cabinet berth for two and half years each.
On March 2 when the results came in, Prime Minister Modi in a tweet had said:
"Grateful to all those who have supported @BJP4Meghalaya in the Assembly polls. We will
keep working hard to enhance the development trajectory of Meghalaya and focus on
empowering the people of the state. I am also thankful to our party workers for the effort they put".
PDF working president Banteidor Lyngdoh said his party did not set any condition of getting a
ministerial berth when it extended support to the Conrad Sangma-led government.
“I do not aspire to become a cabinet minister this time," said the PDF leader, who was the Sports and
Youth Affairs Minister in the previous government.
Notably for the NPP-led MDA, as many as 41 out 59 MLAs that went to the polls could return
to the state assembly.
Prime Minister Modi's attending the swearing in ceremony has added the much required
feel-good factor for the new dispensation and especially Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Observers say the focus of the new ministry will be on development and multi-pronged
strategies to ensure jobs for youths.
"Conrad Sangma may also like to emulate his illustrious father Late P A Sangma who in his brief stint
as chief minister had ushered in an era of monitoring and holding the executive accountable,"
says an editorial in the state's leading newspaper 'The Shillong Times'.
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