Neiphiu Rio Sworn In As Nagaland CM

In a first, the new Nagaland government headed by NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio took oath at a public function at the Kohima Local Ground today. 

Defence Minister Niramala Sitharaman, MoS Home Kiren Rijiju, BJP President Amit Shah and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav  were present at the oath ceremony of the Nagaland CM. 

The venue holds significance as the announcement of Nagaland's statehood on December 1, 1963 was made from here by the then president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), in alliance with the BJP, have taken over the reins of the north-eastern state with the support of 32 MLAs.

The alliance has chosen senior NDPP leader Rio as the chief minister.

Governor P B Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rio and the 11 ministers at the main rostrum of the ground.

The state had invited the common people to the ceremony through newspaper advertisements issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations. 

The swearing-in ceremonies in the state have so far been high-profile shows at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, with VVIPs, VIPs and top bureaucrats in attendance.

The newly-mandated alliance government, comprising 32 elected members of the NDPP, BJP, JD(U) and an Independent, however, has decided to take oath before the public.

Rio will be assuming the charge of Nagaland chief minister for the fourth time. He had served his three previous terms between 2003 and May, 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was reportedly requested to grace the swearing-in ceremony as this was the first time the BJP had won 12 seats in the state, had expressed his inability to attend it, a source in the Raj Bhavan said.

(Agencies)