All conspiracies by Neiphiu Rio to capture power in the state fail, as Shurhozelie Liezietsu succeeds TR Zeliang as Chief Minister
Jagdamba Mall
Shurhozelie Liezietsu was sworn in as new Chief Minister of Nagaland by Governor PB Acharya on February 22. Eleven ministers were also administered the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan. The new Chief Minister is at present not a member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He will have to get elected within six months after joining.
Liezietsu on February 20 had become the consensus candidate for the CM’s post after the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) unanimously elected him the leader of its legislature party at the meeting attended by 59 MLAs. Nagaland has a 60-member Assembly. Liezietsu, who is the Naga People’s Front president, succeeds TR Zeliang, who stepped down on February 19 amid protests by various tribal organisations against the State Government’s decision to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in urban local body elections. Liezietsu had been member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for eight terms but did not contest the 2013 Assembly elections. He is also chairman of the ruling DAN. The ministers inducted include Kiyanilie Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, P Longon, C Kipili Sangtam, CL John, Yitachu, Paiwang Konyak,Vikheho Swu, Chotisuh Sazo, Imkong L Imchen and G Kaito Aye. Out of 11, Imkong L Imchen and G Kaito Aye are the new faces.
It is being termed as a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by Neiphiu Rio who has been gnashing his teeth to teach a befitting lesson to TR Zeliang for refusing to vacate the CM’s chair when he (Neiphiu Rio) failed to penetrate and sneak into Modi cabinet even after applying his men, money and muscle power in May-June 2014. Neiphiu Rio was ready to pour any amount of money packed in bags that too in Delhi destination itself to influence Modi men for a cabinet berth in Union Government for him. The master betrayer, Neiphiu Rio, thought that he could befool all people all the times. During Vajpayee rule in 1998 and afterwards, he had patronised NSCN-IM acting as its godfather and influenced Prime Minister to meet Muivah at three foreign lands and got Muivah released from Bangkok jail with the help of Delhi, allotted rupees 60 lakh each year to Church for conversion of Hindu Nagas from government budget and established jungle rule through the state where hundreds of innocent people, Nagas and non-Nagas both, were killed by armed cadres of NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and anti-social elements.
People were practically crying but Neiphiu Rio turned deaf years. Even Dr SC Jamir was ambushed four times by NSCN-IM to kill him. Neiphiu Rio was allegedly involved in all the attempts by NSCN-IM to kill Dr SC Jamir because if NSCN-IM feared anybody it was Jamir only. NSCN-IM had put Jamir from one to ten in its hit list. The Nexus of Neiphiu Rio and NSCM-IM was prepared to go to any length to get the head of Dr Jamir. Still he managed Delhi to decorate himself with Kohima Crown. People believe that Neiphiu Rio has practically looted Nagaland. They fail to understand how and why this loot has not come into the notice of the CBI, ED, Intelligence and law enforcing agencies. Money was put at its service. In parliamentary election in May 2014, Neiphiu Rio caused defeat of Prof. Gangmumei Kamei, BJP
candidate, by hijacking election process and capturing 60 polling booths by employing 500 armed militants of NSCN-IM.
Secondly, insurgency is a fabulous business for hostile politicians like Neiphiu Rio. That is why, the Framework Agreement 2015 between Delhi and NSCN-IM is an eyesore for Rio. He is working overnight to derail it. Since, TR Zeliang has been assisting both the stake holders for permanent
settlement of Naga problem, Neiphiu Rio got annoyed further by TR Zeliang. Because of that, Rio has been trying
hectically to push out TR. This time, Rio is partially successful by removing TR Zeliang but he again failed to capture the chair. Surhozeilie has ascended on the chair. To Rio’s misfortune, his money has gone wasted.
