Sharingain Longkumer re-elected as Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker

Sharingain Longkumer has been elected unopposed as Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) for the second term in a row during the first session of the 14^th NLA, which commenced on Monday.

Kohima: Pro-tem Speaker and advisor Mhathung Yanthan declared Longkumer, the youngest amongst the 60 legislators, as the Speaker of the NLA unopposed as there was with no other nominations.

He was the lone candidate from the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) who filed his nomination for the post on March 18.

Longkumer’s candidature was proposed by Minister Temjen Imna Along and seconded by Advisor Kekhrielhoulie Yhome.

Elected from 26-Aonglenden Assembly Constituency, Longkumer, who contested on NDPP ticket in the recently concluded assembly election, defeated his rival INC candidate by a margin of 4,390 votes.

The 42-year-old Longkumer began his political innings after winning the bye-election in 2019 and was elected as the deputy speaker in the 13^th NLA. He was subsequently elected as Speaker in 2020 following the demise of the then Speaker Late Vikho-o Yhoshu.

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During his last tenure, Longkumer introduced and implemented the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme, making Nagaland the first state in the country to go paperless.

Leader of the house and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated the Speaker on behalf of the house.

With his (Longkumer) qualifications and vast experience in the related fields, the house unanimously decided to entrust him with the post once again, the Chief Minister said. 

On assuming the post, Longkumer assured the house that he would endeavour to prioritise strengthening of the committees to bring about a robust system and accountability in governance.