Neiphiu Rio (File Photo)
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 4
Neiphiu Rio will be sworn in as the 19th Chief Minister of Nagaland on March 5 here. Rio will set a record as a chief minister elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for three straight terms.
The swearing-in ceremony has been scheduled at 11: 00 am on March 5 at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan where Governor Nikhil Kumar will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister and the 11-member Council of Ministers. The NPF-led DAN, with 40 elected members (38 NPF, one each of BJP and JDU), along with 7 Independents, laid claim to form the government on Saturday.
Rio, son of Late Guolhoulie Rio of Tuophema village in Kohima district, was born on 11 November 1950. He was educated in Baptist English School, Kohima and Sainik School Purulia, West Bengal. He further studied at St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling and graduated from Kohima Arts College. He is married with five daughters and a son.
Active student leader while in schools and colleges, Rio once escaped an assassination bid on May 30, 1995. He took active part in youth politics of the UDF in the 1970s before joining the Congress in the 1990s. He resigned from the Congress in 2002 to join the NPF.
First elected to Nagaland Legislative Assembly from Northern Angami- II constituency on Congress (I) ticket in the 7th general elections of 1989, Rio held a number of important portfolios. He was elected twice more from the same ticket and constituency before switching to NPF from which he won thrice. In these three times, he facilitated the formation of the DAN governments. Neiphiu Rio has been elected leader of NPF Legislature Party and leader of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Legislature Party on March 1.
