81-year old Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu to be sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Nagaland on February 22, 2017
Morung Express News
Dimapur / Kohima | February 20
In yet another twist in the unpredictable political scenario of Nagaland, the tides of political power went in favor of NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who was unanimously elected as the leader of DAN legislature Party on Monday. He is now poised to be the next Chief Minister of Nagaland replacing TR Zeliang who tendered his resignation to the Governor on Sunday.
At eighty-one, Dr. Shurhozelie will become the 17th Chief Minister of Nagaland and is due to be sworn in on February 22, 2017.
Dr. Shurhozelie, who was the first choice to replace Zeliang was beleaguered after Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio appeared in the picture and became the front runner to the CM’s chair. Until Saturday evening, it looked as if Rio would become the next Chief Minister with the backing of 49 NPF and Independent legislators who camped at a resort in Kaziranga, Assam.
However, as fickle as politics get, on Monday, at the NPF legislators’ meeting, Dr. Shurhozelie became the unanimous choice leaving a hopeful Rio in the cold.
It now emerges that Dr. Shurhozelie actually held the “trump card” as he had claimed on Saturday.
While Rio reportedly managed to play his hands, many NPF legislators, who joined him at Kaziranga, did not want to switch party or form a new one and insisted that if he wanted to be the Chief Minister, his suspension from the NPF party should first be revoked.
However, when the legislators realized that the suspension of Rio was not going to be revoked anytime soon, they switched allegiance back to Dr. Shurhozelie, sources from the NPF camp revealed.
Assures to bring back normalcy
A press communiqué from the media cell, CMO stated that the Chief Minister-designate Dr Shurhozelie lauded TR Zeliang’s “supreme sacrifice” of vacating his chair to save Naga people from going into further turmoil.
“He has done this with a big heart and I want all to recognize this sacrifice,” Dr. Shurhozelie said in his acceptance speech after been unanimously elected as the Leader of the DAN legislature party this morning.
Dr. Shurhozelie also pledged to give his best to bring back normalcy to “our land and society.”
“A lot of damage has been done to the fair name of Nagaland and our economy has been adversely affected in the last few weeks. But I hope good sense will prevail so that people can come together and rebuild our society,” he said and appealed to “the people of Nagaland to initiate the healing process giving due recognition to the sacrifice made by the outgoing Chief Minister.”
“I cannot do magic even if I take over but I have a strong feeling that together we can achieve our goal, together we can do it,” Dr. Shurhozelie said.
He also called upon the legislators to forgive one another if there have been differences among them and to “move ahead together for the betterment of the Naga society.”
To form Ministry on February 22
A separate statement from the PRO to the Governor stated that Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu called on Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya on Monday and formally staked his claim for formation of new Government. He was accompanied by outgoing Chief Minister and other Cabinet colleagues, the PRO stated.
The Governor appointed Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, Leader of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) as the Chief Minister of Nagaland and invited him to form the Ministry on February 22, 2017 at 11:00 am at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
Dr. Shurhozelie has been elected to the Nagaland Assembly eight times from Northern Angami assembly constituency. But he did not contest the 2013 election and paved way for his son Khriehu Leizietsu.
Khriehu was inducted as parliamentary secretary of youth resources and sports, Music Task Force and State lottery in the Zeliang government. He is likely to vacate his seat for his father to contest the by-election within six months.
TR Zeliang appointed Chairman of DAN
TR Zeliang who stepped down as the Chief Minister of Nagaland was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Co-ordination Committee.
His name was proposed by the new leader of the DAN Legislature Party, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu at the DAN Legislature Party meeting today and was unanimously accepted by the legislators through a show of raising hands, media cell CMO informed in a press statement.
The post was occupied by Dr Shurhozelie till date, and is equivalent to the status of a Cabinet Minister.
