Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, MARCH 24
CHIEF Minister Neiphiu Rio today bade adieu to state Assembly to contest the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 9.
Accepting that today would be his last day in the state Assembly if he gets elected to Lok Sabha, Rio said, “I am concluding with a happy note that nothing really serious went wrong during my tenure as Chief Minister.”
“In fact I got all the support and cooperation from all of you,” he said while thanking the members of the House, bureaucrats, Speaker and staff who worked with him during the 11 years as CM. He also acknowledged the contribution of the opposition Congress stating that as Opposition they had sharpened the ministers and parliamentary secretaries in-charge of various departments.
Maintaining that he is leaving behind many capable colleagues, who can look after the affairs of the state, Rio expressed ‘full’ confidence on them while also being optimistic that they will carry forward the initiatives and policies undertaken by the NPF-led DAN government.
“I will be holding bigger responsibility, playing the national politics for our people and we are to serve our people… it is for us, particularly politicians… we cannot demand respect or office but we have to earn that respect and position,” he said.
