Number game put to rest

Standing contender for the Chief Minister’s chair, current Minister of Planning & Coordination, Evaluation, Geology & Mining, TR Zeliang, arrived a step closer to the State premier’s office today.

With PHED Minister Noke Wangnao officially opting out of the race, Zeliang reportedly was blessed by incumbent CM Neiphiu Rio today at a meeting held at his official residence in Kohima alongwith Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, Minister for Roads & Bridges, Parliamentary Affairs.

TR Zeliang, alongwith 27 supporters from the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, had been camping at IORA resort in Kaziranga, Assam, for the past several days. The number of his supporters is suggested to have nearly doubled as of Wednesday evening.

“I have 40 supporters so far, including those from NCP, NJP and JD (U),” revealed Zeliang on Wednesday evening, confident of being elected as the next CM, if numbers are to decide the fate of the State.

Zeliang said at present there are 36 members from the NLA who have pledged support to him and are staying at the resort in Kaziranga as a “mark of their loyalty.” 
It was learnt that NPF’s official meeting to declare the next CM of Nagaland State has tentatively been set for May 17, a day after the declaration of the Lok Sabha results, and after the incumbent CM, if he wins the election, perhaps relinquishes office.

Zeliang confirmed this. “We have worked out a programme to have a meeting on May 17 where formal declaration of the next CM will be made whereby a meeting of the NPF legislature party has been made in order,” he said, adding that if there are no other “contestants,” the ‘process of him being the next CM would be complete.’

Zeliang also said he had the “blessing” of NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu. “He is clear that the contender with the majority should prevail.” He informed that at present there are around 28 NPF legislators, 8 Independent, 2 NCP, 1 BJP and 1 JD (U) who have pledged support to him.

 

Newmai News Network
Shillong/Dimapur | May 14

Two former Congress party stalwarts from the North East region have started chalking strategies to change the political equation in the region in the event the NDA comes to power at the Centre. PA Sangma, from the National People’s Party and Neiphiu Rio, from the Naga People’s Front are now comrades in common issues of the region as both of them are elated by the exit poll results.

The exit polls predicted PA Sangma winning the Tura Lok Sabha seat of Meghalaya. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio too is expected to win. Both Rio and Sangma had met BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi recently. Both their parties are units of the North East Regional Parties Front which endorses the NDA at the Centre. Under the banner of NERPF, Rio and Sangma have assured they will take up issues confronting the North East region if the NDA comes to power at the Centre.