The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party Legislature Party (NDPPLP) on Friday unanimously elected the incumbent Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, as the leader of the NDPP Legislature Party.
The decision was taken at the first meeting of the NDPPLP for the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) held at the NDPP Central Office in Kohima on Friday, a day after the regional party won 25 seats out of 40 it had contested, while its ally – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – won 12 seats (out of 20 seats), taking the tally to 37 in the 60-member Assembly.
The house further endorsed its leader Rio to take the prerogative of forming the new government, read the resolution adopted
“The NDPPLP conveys our heartfelt gratitude to all the electorates of Nagaland for once again reposing their faith and confidence on the NDPP and the leadership of Mr. Neiphiu Rio, the Hon'ble Chief Minister by electing us as their respective representatives to the 14th NLA,” read one of the resolutions adopted by the house.
It also “resolved to work with the vision for peace and development and take Nagaland towards a State of Excellence”.
Rio and NDPP President Chingwang Konyak congratulated and welcomed all the newly elected NDPP members of the NLA and encouraged all the members to work tirelessly for the people and fulfill the commitments made during the entire campaign period based on the party manifesto’.
Meanwhile, sources from the party informed Eastern Mirror that it will meet its ally BJP soon, perhaps within a couple of days, to stake claim for forming the new government, as the tenure of the 13th NLA will end on March 12.
The chief minister is said to have met all the elected members of the NDPP personally later in the day after the meeting.
According to reliable sources, about 5-6 BJP legislators led by Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton are also heading to Guwahati to meet Northeast Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convener and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to acknowledge his support and blessings during the recently concluded election.
They are also likely to visit Delhi after meeting Sarma in Guwahati, it was informed.