Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party leader Neiphiu Rio and National People’s Party president Conrad Sangma on Tuesday took oath as the chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya.
The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party coalition in Nagaland won 37 seats in the 60-member Assembly in the recently-concluded Assembly polls. Subsequently, all other parties in the state extended their support to the Rio-led alliance.
TR Zeliang and Y Patton were sworn in as the deputy chief ministers of Nagaland on Tuesday. Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu, the two women elected to the state Assembly for the first time, were also sworn in as members of the council of ministers.
“I feel happy to have got this chance,” Kruse told ANI. “Women can also get all work done if they are hard-working and sincere.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda attended the swearing-in ceremonies in both the northeastern states.
National People’s Party leaders Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar took oath as the deputy chief ministers of Meghalaya.
Nine MLAs were also appointed as Cabinet ministers. Among these, five – Ampareen Lyngdoh, Comingone Ymbon, Abu Taher Mondal, Marcuise N Marak, and Rakkam A Sangma – belong to the National People’s Party, according to ANI.
The remaining members of the Cabinet are United Democratic Party MLAs Kyrmen Shylla and Paul Lyngdoh, BJP’s Alexander Laloo Hek and State People’s Democratic Party Shakliar Warjri Hill.
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On March 2, the National People’s Party had emerged as the single-largest party with 26 seats in the Meghalaya Assembly elections. It had, however, failed to cross the majority mark of 31.
The next day, Sangma claimed that he has the support of 32 MLAs, including two each of the BJP and Hill State People’s Democratic Party as well as two Independents.
However, the Hill State People’s Democratic Party soon issued a statement saying that it had not authorised its MLAs to lend support to Sangma.
This had also prompted the United Democratic Party to attempt to form an alternate government in coalition with regional parties and the Trinamool Congress, which bagged five seats.
However, on March 6, the United Democratic Party and People’s Democratic Front, with 11 and two MLAs, extended their support to Sangma. With their backing, Sangma’s party now has the support of 45 MLAs in the 60-seat Assembly.
On Tuesday, Sangma said that his government would give priority to youths and generate employment in the statement, reported ANI.
“We’ll continue to work on the foundations we have laid in the last 5 years for the development of the state,” he said.
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