Neiphiu Rio sworn in as Nagaland Chief Minister

New Delhi : Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio took oath as the Nagaland Chief Minister on Thursday.

Oath taking ceremony was attended by defence minister Niramala Sitharaman, minister of state (home) Kiren Rijiju, BJP president Amit Shah, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, Manipur CM N Biren Singh, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his inability to attend the event a source in the Raj Bhavan had told PTI yesterday.

Before this, Rio had served as the Chief Minister of state between 2003 and 2014.

Veteran Naga People's Front (NPF) leader T.R. Zeliang on Tuesday resigned as Chief Minister of Nagaland after the BJP turned down its offer for a post-poll alliance to form a new government.

The outgoing Chief Minister said the NPF would extend full support to the new government wherever its decisions were in the larger interests of the Naga people apart from playing a constructive role of opposition in furthering the overall cause of the Nagas.

Zeliang said Nagaland cannot be left out of the vigorous developmental process.

"An honourable and acceptable settlement to the Naga political issue, in pursuance of the Framework Agreement signed on August 3, 2015, is the fervent wish of the Naga people as a whole. A durable peace in the state may be possible only under a united aegis in the Legislative Assembly," he said.

Expressing its sincere appreciation to the electorate of Nagaland for giving its mandate in favour of the NDPP-BJP alliance under the leadership of the Chief Ministerial candidate Rio, the NDPP appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support and positive participation in the election campaign.