Political Heavyweight, Shurhozelie Is The New CM - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland

Political heavyweight, Shurhozelie is the new CM

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By Our Correspondent Updated: Feb 22, 2017 11:14 pm

Kohima, Feb. 22: Eighty-one-year-old veteran regionalist, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu was sworn in as the 17th chief min
ister of Nagaland on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
Governor PB Acharya administered the oath of office to the new chief minister and his eleven-member council of ministers. With the formal swearing-in today, Dr Shurhozelie becomes the 11th person to hold the chief minister’s post in Nagaland.
The eleven other cabinet ministers who also took oath along with him included Kiyanilie Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, P Longon, C Kipili Sangtam, CL John, Yitachu, Paiwang Konyak and Y Vikheho Swu from the previous ministry. The new entrants are Chotisuh Sazo, who recently resigned as the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, and G Kaito Aye.List of cabinet Minister
Interestingly, Imkong L Imchen, whose suspension from the ruling NPF party on grounds of “anti-party activities” was rev
oked only yesterday, was also named in the new council of ministers. Three previous cabinet ministers who were dropped include Dr. Neikesalie Kire, Nuklutoshi Longkumer and Tokheho Yepthomi.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by a host of MLAs including the sitting Rajya Sabha MP KG Kenye, bureaucrats and leaders of civil societies. Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) president, Abei-u Meru, one of the petitioners in the Supreme Court fighting for 33% women reservation in the state’s civic bodies, was also present at the event.
After the ceremony, a brief programme was held at the State Banquet Hall where the new chief minister, Dr Shurhozelie and the new DAN chairman, TR Zeliang addressed party workers.
Another swearing-in ceremony was held for 24 parliamentary secretaries at the State Banquet Hall a
nd for 6 advisors at the chief minister’s office chamber.

‘Forgiveness is the essence of peace in society’
The new chief minister, Dr Shurhozelie LIezietsu today underscored that forgiveness is a virtue and the essence of peace for the society. He said this while regretting the recent events and the paper war that followed. He maintained that if leaders make peace and work sincerely, the fruit will be enjoyed by the people.
Shurhozelie announced that one of the first priorities of the new government is to create a public platform to debate few important points such as the urban local bodies (ULB) elections vis-a-vis Article 371A. “We have to create platforms to give opportunity to the Naga people to speak out their minds, so that in due course of time, what is best for the people can be chosen,” he said.
Stating that he was prepared to take the chief minister’s position ‘not for 5 years but for 6 months, or at the most, 11 months’, Shurhozelie said only time will speak to the people after that.
On the arrangement of the new cabinet, Shurhozelie said many people could be confused, and that it might have “temporarily created great disappointment” to many senior legislators. He clarified that it was not possible to accommodate all 60 members into the council of ministers. However, he pointed out that the service of all the 60 members was required equally to face the tasks that lay ahead in the service of the people.
To the MLAs, he assured that difference in ranks does not matter and they needed to trust one another and work as a team so that their goals may be achieved.
Maintaining that there is no place for complacency for the party and the government when their responsibilities were very heavy, Shurhozelie called upon all to give concessions and to forgive one another, and renew their spirit in unity as they strive to work for the welfare of the people.
He also asserted that there would be no development without stability in the government, and expressed hope that all would realize that “fighting among ourselves” is not good for the people.
“We must commit ourselves to the will of God and to the will of the people,” the chief minister said.
He also asked all his cabinet colleagues and officers of all the departments to have a sitting on Friday morning. He felt that there is much to cover for the time lost and the colossal loss to the economy with the offices and business establishments being closed for many days. He maintained that “double efforts” would be needed to recover the losses.
He also expressed appreciation to the outgoing chief minister TR Zeliang for taking “an extraordinary step” and making a “supreme sacrifice” by abdicating his position, while also acknowledging Zeliang’s wife, Kevi and their children for their support.

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By Our Correspondent Updated: Feb 22, 2017 11:14:51 pm
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