DIMAPUR, March 6 - Nagaland Governor PB Acharya has invited Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP chief ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio to form the new government in Nagaland under clause (1) of Article 164 of the Constitution of India. The Governor also requested Chief Minister TR Zeliang to continue in office till an alternative arrangement is made.
In a letter addressed to Rio on Tuesday, the Governor said he has received letters of support in favour of him (Rio) from legislators of BJP, JD(U) and an Independent besides NDPP MLAs, totaling 32 in the House of 60.
The new Council of Ministers will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor in Kohima on March 8. He also asked Rio to prove his majority on the floor of the House on or before March 16.
Earlier on the day, officials from the Election Commission of India along with Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha submitted the notification constituting the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly to the Governor at Raj Bhavan Kohima. Following this, the Governor dissolved the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Sources said though Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to attend the swearing-in of the new ministry, he is not going to attend it. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president Amit Shah will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the NDPP-BJP alliance government under the banner of People�s Democratic Alliance (PDA).
National People�s Party (NPP), a pre-poll ally of NPF, which bagged two seats in the just concluded Nagaland Assembly elections has also officially given a letter of support to the NDPP-led alliance to form the government. With their support, NDPP-BJP alliance tally has reached 34 in the House of 60.
Meanwhile, Y Patton has been elected as leader of BJP Legislature Party on Monday. He is all set to be the Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland.
Earlier, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has unanimously elected Neiphiu Rio as the NDPP Legislature Party leader.
The NDPP-BJP chief ministerial candidate was elected at the first meeting of the NDPP Legislature Party, comprising 18 legislators, in Kohima, NDPP said in a press release on Tuesday.
Adopting a 9-point resolution, the meeting appealed to all sections of the people to leave the bitter experiences of the elections behind and come together under a spirit of unity and oneness in the greater interest of the citizens of Nagaland so that all sections can collectively work towards achieving common endeavors of economic growth, all round development and lasting peace.
The NDPP Legislature Party said resolution of the Indo-Naga political problem would be at the top of the party�s agenda. The House endorsed the stand of the party to bring positive change, provide good governance, transparent administration and redraw a new roadmap of progressive development for a resurgent Nagaland.
