NAGALAND: STRATEGISTS MEET NEIPHIU RIO TO FORM GOVERNMENT

North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) Chairman Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Organisational GS and Northeast In-charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party Ajay Jalwal today met Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio at his residence in Kohima to create an effective strategy and finalise the formation of the NDPP-BJP coalition government in Nagaland.

It may be mentioned that the NDPP on Sunday staked claim to form the government in Nagaland. Neiphiu Rio claimed the support of 32 MLAs in the state's 60 member Assembly. This was accepted by Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, who said the three-time chief minister had majority an d should form the government. The NDPP and pre-poll ally BJP, which received 17 and 12 seats, respectively, had earlier expressed confidence that they would be able to form a government in the state. They also have the support of one independent and one JD(U) MLAs which takes them to 32 seats.

Rio had highlighted two top priorities for the alliance, resolution of the Naga political issue as soon as possible and all-round development of Nagaland.