DIMAPUR, March 25 - Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) MLA Zhaleo Rio is all set to become the Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Assembly. He will be declared elected unopposed as no other candidates have been fielded by any other party for the post till the end of filing of nomination on Saturday.
The Nagaland Assembly Secretariat informed that the date of filing nomination was March 24, till 12 noon, and the date of withdrawal of nomination was also March 24, from 1 pm to 4 pm.
The election to the post of Deputy Speaker will take place on March 26.
Zhaleo is the younger brother of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. A former IAS officer, Zhaleo was elected to the Nagaland Assembly from Ghaspani II Assembly Constituency for two consecutive terms since 2013.
Er Vikho-o Yhosu of NDPP was the elected Speaker of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He defeated Opposition NPF candidate Dr Imtiwapang Aier by six votes. Yhosu polled 33 votes while Aier secured 26 votes. Yhoshu was elected to the State Assembly for three consecutive terms since 2008.
Yhoshu was elected new Speaker at the first session of the Nagaland Assembly on March 13.
The ruling PDA government has 34 MLAs in the 60-member House while the Opposition NPF has 26 MLAs.
Chief Minister Rio on March 22 appointed 20 PDA legislators as advisors to various State government departments. The strength of Cabinet ministers in the House is 12.
NDPP legislator Zhaleo Rio did not find any place either in the Rio Cabinet or as advisor. Now, with his election as the Deputy Speaker, all the PDA MLAs will be accommodated.
The Chief Minister on March 23 also appointed six party functionaries of NDPP, BJP and the National People�s Party as chairmen of various public sector undertakings (PSUs)/mission mode programme (MMP).
