Principal Correspondent
Kohima, May 17
Minister of Planning and Coordination, Evaluation and Geology & Mining TR Zeliang was today formally declared new leader of the NPF-led DAN Legislature Party and Chief Minister-designate of Nagaland.
Parliamentary Secretary for Jail, HG, VGs and DB/GBs Kejong Chang proposed Zeliang’s name while Minister of Forest and Border Affairs Y Patton seconded the proposal during a formal meeting of the NPF-led DAN Legislature Party presided over by Minister of Road and Bridges and Parliamentary Affairs Kuzholuzo Nienu. Newly elected Lok Sabha MP and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie along with party workers and almost all DAN legislators, including NCP and Independent MLAs, attended the meeting at State Banquet Hall Kohima.NPF Legislature Party and DAN-III Legislature Party endorsed Zeliang as the new leader of the NPF-led DAN by raising their hands.
DAN alliance partners BJP and JDU along with outside supporters NCP and Independent legislators reaffirmed their unstinted support and cooperation to leadership of Zeliang during the meeting.In his acceptance speech, Zeliang expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, NPF president Dr. Shürhozelie, party leaders and all legislators of DAN alliance for ensuring smooth and safe transition of leadership and for the trust and confident reposed on him.
He appreciated the leadership of Rio, saying he is a man of great deeds and in possession of vibrant thoughts.
“His charismatic nature has instilled an admirable and inspirational sense before the people and for which even our opponents have immense respect for him in particular and NPF party in general,” he said.
Congratulating Rio on his landslide victory in recently concluded Lok Sabha election, Zeliang assured full support and cooperation to him in all his endeavor at the Centre.
“We will carry forward the legacy and vision left to us for the welfare of the people,” Zeliang said.
He also thanked Noke Wangnao for his magnanimous gesture and approach towards resolving the leadership issue. Noke, Zeliang said, is a man who works silently but delivers strongly and strives hard for the uplift of the backward region.
Rio congratulated Zeliang and said NPF-led DAN has achieved a lot but it still has a long way to go while seeking forgiveness from his legislators for any offense he has committed against anyone.
He also thanked all the legislators and party for reposing trust in him. Extending best wishes to Zeliang, Rio said there had been a communication gap and expression of different opinions during the transitional period. Therefore some misunderstanding developed but it has died down now, he said.
“To run government for the third term will not be easy. It will be possible only when the party remains united,” Rio said and urged upon the new leadership to give priority to the backward region.
Meanwhile, the State unit of NCP welcomed the leadership of TR Zeliang and thanked all the DAN legislators for unanimously electing him as the new leader of the DAN alliance, NCP Nagaland president Imtilemba Sangtam Said in a release.
