Politics / Nagaland

Kohima, March 12: The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland may have won the war, but the battles were pitted neck and neck. Twenty-seven of the 37 candidates fielded by the BJP forfeited their deposits while only three of the 60 Congressmen contributed to the government exchequer.

Seventy-eight of the 219 candidates whose results have been declared — the results of two seats are pending — have lost their security deposits of Rs 2,500, contributing Rs 1,95,000 to the exchequer.

The tally for forfeitures shows that 11 candidates of the Nagaland People’s Front, 10 of the Nationalist Democratic...

KOHIMA, March 10— Chief Minister Neiphu Rio whose Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition government took over the reins of the state on March six, and is yet to distribute portfolios, today inducted four new Ministers, including one of Cabinet rank besides elevating five Ministers of State to Cabinet rank, reports PTI. Of the four new entrants, I Sangtam of the BJP was of cabinet rank while others from the Nagaland People’s Front, the leading DAN partner, were made Ministers of State.

The newly inducted Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Shymal Dutta at...

BANGKOK, March 10 — Underscoring the need for the continuance of the ongoingg Naga peace talks with the Centre, Nagaland NSCN(IM) has urged the Indian Government to depute a politician instead of a bureaucrat to hold parleys with the group, reports PTI.

NSCN sources said they were keen to have a politician at the talks instead of a bureaucrat. “In any talks, there has to be give and take, and it is difficult sometimes to negotiate with non-politicians.”

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who was in Bangkok over the last two days, said he had met with NSCN (IM) chairman Chishi Swu and both...

Guwahati, March 9: The defection of two Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) legislators to the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) even before taking oath as members of the new Assembly has sparked a constitutional crisis in the state.

The duo, Kihoto Hollohon and Kipili Sangtam, broke away from the party to make the Neiphiu Rio-led NPF the single largest party in the Assembly with 21 seats.

Of the questions being raised by the defections, the most important one is whether two MLAs from a party can merge with another before they are sworn in as members of the Assembly and the Speaker recognises...

Kohima, March 9: Merely four days after taking oath of office, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is ready to expand his ministry. Come tomorrow, Rio hopes to silence dissenters in the fledgling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland through the tried and tested tactic of giving them ministerial berths. However, it will be a surprise if he gifts the finance portfolio to a BJP member.

Apart from inducting new ministers, Rio is likely to elevate some ministers of state to Cabinet rank. At least two junior ministers — Vatsu Meru of the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and Imtilemba Sangtam of the BJP —...

IMPHAL, March 9 — Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has close touch with his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga over the Indo-Nagaland peace talks which is likely to resume within this month. The Mizoram Chief Minister left the capital Aizawl for Bangkok via Kolkata on March 5. The Zoramthanga’s latest visit to the Thai capital is being largely perceived as one aimed at preparing suitable grounds for the next rounds of peace talks between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM), scheduled to take place soon. Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who used to be a member of the...

KOHIMA, March 8 – Several constituent political parties of Democratic Alliance of Nagaland have expressed serious concern over the NSCN (K)’s recent threats to target at least 17 new legislators elected in the just concluded Nagaland assembly elections. The Deputy Kilonser (Minister) of the NSCN (K), Kughalu Mulatonu told a news agency earlier this week that they would attack the 17 lawmakers---10 from the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and 7 from BJP. Mulatonu was quoted as saying “We would like to make it clear to the NPF and BJP legislators not to create problems for us and not to go...

Kohima/Dimapur, March 7: Nagaland chief minister Nei-phiu Rio is likely to expand his ministry by Tuesday to “keep everyone happy” amid hectic lobbying among the coalition partners to garner lucrative portfolios.

Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) spokesperson and a Cabinet minister in the coalition government, K. Therie, told The Telegraph, “There will be some readjustment in the ministry as we have to keep everyone happy.”

The day-old government is already facing a tough time over the distribution of portfolios. According to insiders in the ruling coalition, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland...

KOHIMA, March 7 — From a student leader to a trusted lieutenant of Nagaland’s longest serving Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio has seen many ups and downs in his illustrious political career which led him to occupy the top political post in the insurgency-prone state. For the 53-year-old Rio, the ninth Chief Minister of the state, it has been a long road to success since his days as a student leader in 1974.

Son of Guolhulie Rio of Tuophema village in Kohima district and belonging to the Angami Naga tribe, Rio had his early education at various places including Sainik School in Purulia, West...

NEW DELHI, March 7 — In a bid to capitalise on the ongoing peace talks with the NSCN (I-M), Centre has despatched Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga to Bangkok to open dialogue with pro-IM underground outfits including the NDFB, highly placed sources said. The development came at a time when name of former interlocutor, Swaraj Kaushal has again come into circulation as the next political negotiator for the Naga peace talks. The chief interlocutor, K Padmanabhiah may be on his way out with Centre looking for his successor.

Indications were that the Mizoram Chief Minister may have carried a...