Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 8 (EMN): NPF MLA YM Yollow Konyak representing 42-Wakching Assembly constituency is set to be inducted as a minister in the Neiphiu Rio-led Cabinet as per a highly reliable source.
The swearing-in ceremony will be held on Feb. 9 at Raj Bhavan at 9 am.
Konyak is one of 20 MLAs from the eastern Nagaland region.
Currently, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Justices and Law portfolio is lying vacant after the passing away of the incumbent Minister CM Chang in October 2020.
Meanwhile, former Nagaland Chief Minister and Naga People's Front (NPF) Legislature Party leader TR Zeliang has been elected as the chairman of United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The decision was taken following a joint parliamentary meeting comprising all the ruling parties -- NDPP, BJP, NPF and Independent -- at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex State Banquet Hall in Kohima.
The election of the UDA Chairman has been pending after the all-party alliance was formed last year with an objective to facilitate an early settlement to the protracted Naga political issue.
On the new appointment, BJP national spokesperson and advisor for IT, Science and Technology, and New and Renewable Energy, Mmhonlumo Kikon, stated that the decision was taken by the UDA and termed it as “simple exercise” by the house.
“It was just the chief minister vacating his position as the chairman and replacing him by TR Zeliang”, he added.
Furthermore, the UDA decided that Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would campaign for Naga People’s Front (NPF) party candidates, contesting in the upcoming Manipur Assembly elections scheduled on February 27 and March 3.
Earlier, the NPF had called upon the chief minister to campaign in the Manipur polls, in which the party fielded 10 candidates out of 11 Naga-inhabited constituencies. On the other hand, BJP fielded candidates for all the 60 seats.
“CM will go (to Manipur) and campaign as invited (by the NPF) for the NPF”, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Land Revenue and Planning and Co-ordination Neiba Kronu, who also chaired the joint meeting, told journalists after the meet.
Taking into consideration the all-party alliance in Nagaland which includes BJP, Kronu refused to comment as to whether the CM would be campaigning for the BJP as well in Manipur, and added “time will tell”.