Rio to step down as Nagaland CM today

Kohima: Newly elected lone Member of Lok Sabha from Nagaland and incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would be resigning from CM’s post and state assembly on Friday with Chief Minister-designate T R Zeliang slated to take oath by later in the evening.
Talking to mediapersons at Kohima Heliport after returning from Delhi, Rio said, “I will resign tomorrow (from Chief Minister’s chair ).” Rio was accompanied by Minister for School Education C M Chang. The three time-chief minister of Nagaland, Rio defeated closest Congress rival K V Pusa by 4,00,225 votes in the Lok Sabha polls.
The first time Naga MP had been in Delhi since May 17 with some of his council of ministers. During his stay in Delhi, Rio, who is also the convener of North East Regional Political Forum (NERPF) not only met Modi and other senior BJP leaders but also addressed the BJP-led NDA Legislature Party meeting in the Central Hall of the Parliament on May 20.
Chief Minister-designate T R Zeliang is likely to approach Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar by Friday evening for formation of the next DAN-III ministry under his leadership, DAN sources said. Zeliang had been holding charge of Minister for Planning and Coordination and other few departments under Rio government.
Minister for Roads and Bridges and Parliamentary Affairs, Kuzholuzo Nienu, a close aide of Zeliang told newsmen here that with the change of leadership, reshuffle in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN)-III ministry is inevitable. DAN has 52 MLAs in the 60-member state Assembly. (PTI)