DIMAPUR, March 26 - Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) legislator Zhaleo Rio was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Assembly on Monday. His name was proposed by Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Parliamentary Affairs CM Chang and seconded by Advisor, School Education, K Sukhalu.
Chief Minster Neiphiu Rio, while congratulating the newly elected Deputy Speaker, said the role of the chair plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of the House. The Deputy Speaker will have to carry out the responsibilities of the Speaker in his absence apart from other responsibilities, Rio said.
Zhaleo has vast experience and worked in various capacities as Nagaland Civil Service officer and was inducted into IAS in 1997. The new Deputy Speaker took voluntary retirement in 2013 to join public service. He is the younger brother of the Chief Minister.
Felicitating the newly elected Deputy Speaker, Opposition leader TR Zeliang said the Opposition decided not to nominate its candidate and make Zhaleo the Deputy Speaker as he served as a bureaucrat for a long time and was elected to the House for the second time.
The Opposition bench expected that there will be impartiality and unbiased attitude particularly towards the Opposition members in the House.
Zhaleo said the responsibility that has been reposed on him is a solemn task which cannot be fulfilled without the cooperation and assistance of the members of the House. Therefore, he appealed to every member of the Assembly to extend their full cooperation.