SWEARING-IN TODAY: MODI, SHAH, NADDA, CMS OF 4 NE STATES & OTHERS TO ATTEND
Veteran Naga politician and leader of the NDPP-BJP alliance Neiphiu Rio, will be sworn-in as the chief minister of Nagaland for a record fifth consecutive term on March 7 at the Captial Cultural Hall Kohima at 1.30 p.m. in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, BJP national president JP Nadda a host of Central leaders, newly elected members, top civil and police officials at the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima.
The swearing-in ceremony will also be attended by chief ministers of Assam, Manipur,Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Union minister of state and president of RPI (A) Ramdas Athawale and others.
Sources informed Nagaland Post that after receiving letter of support from pre-poll alliance partner the BJP, Rio called on Nagaland Governor La Ganesan at Raj Bhavan Monday evening and staked claim to form the next government.
It may be pointed out that both NDPP(25) and BJP(12) have absolute majority of 37 members in a house of 60.
After Y. Patton was re-elected as the leader of BJP Legislature Party (BLP) with the status of deputy chief minister, legislators from both parties who are ministerial hopefuls were yet to receive the formal appointment letter from the Raj Bhavan to be inducted on Tuesday along with Rio and Patton.
It was learnt that the letter of appointment for ten ministers will be sent Tuesday morning.
As per the 91st Amendment Act, Nagaland, like other small states having up to a maximum of 70 members can have 20% of the total membership of the house or 12 ministers.
For state having over 70 members, the number is restricted to within 15% of the total membership of the house.
It was learnt that BJP wants to retain six cabinet berths (including Dy.CM) as per the 2018 cabinet allocation. Sources said that finally, both sides have agreed on a 7 (NDPP):5(BJP) cabinet berth share.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be on a two-day visit to the North East from Tuesday, will also attend the oath taking ceremonies of new governments in Meghalaya and Tripura.
Modi will arrive Kohima Tuesday afternoon after attending the swearing-in ceremony in Shillong. He will then return to Guwahati in the evening and halt for the night.
Modi is also scheduled to attend the cabinet meeting of the Assam government during his stay and then go to Tripura on Wednesday morning to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Manik Saha government before returning to Delhi.
