For the first time in Nagaland political history, a regional party–NDPP which emerged as the single largest party with 25 members after the recent elections– but has to rush to Delhi to obtain approval of the BJP high command to form the government.
NDPP supremo and outgoing chief minister Neiphiu Rio is taking the help of NEDA convenor and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to hold deliberations with top BJP national leaders on composition of the council of ministers especially over how many cabinet berths will be available for the BJP.
Sources said that team comprising of NDPP members led by Rio and Assam chief minister Himanta called on Union Home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Sunday evening regarding government formation.
The meeting held at Shah’s residence was also attended by BJP national president JP Nadda, NDPP president Chingwang Konyak, NDPP secretary general Abu Metha and NDPP senior vice president Rusemtong Longkumer.
Soon after the meeting, the leaders returned to Nagaland Sunday late night by a chartered flight. Rio is expected to call for a joint meeting of the BJP and NDPP MLAs by Monday.
The NDPP won 25 seats and BJP won 12 seats in the recent election while the council of ministers is limited to 12 members. According to sources NDPP has informed its pre-poll ally, that it is going to keep eight berths for its members and leave four for the BJP. In the outgoing ministry, BJP was given six cabinet berths which NDPP maintained, was disproportionate to the number of seats vis-Ã -vis NDPP.
Also, what has led both Rio and Himanta to air dash to Delhi has been the inability of the BJP to resolve the issue of who will be the leader of BJP Legislature Party (BLP). There are two contenders besides Y. Patton and whoever is named as leader will also be the coalition’s next deputy chief minister with the crucial home portfolio.
However, it was disclosed by some sources, this may not necessarily be followed in the new council of ministers. There has been a suggestion that the home portfolio be given to another cabinet minister and not necessarily to the deputy CM.
Modi, Shah and Nadda to attend swearing-in
Meanwhile, BJP sources also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of NDPP-BJP leg government headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio on March 7.
Modi, Shah and Nadda will also attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the chief ministers of Meghalaya and Tripura on March 7 and 8 respectively.
