Rio's successor
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Dimapur, May 15 2014 : TR Zeliang's name is likely to be announced officially as the next chief minister of Nagaland on May 17 (Saturday), if Neiphiu Rio wins in the lone Lok Sabha seat of Nagaland on Friday.

Sources said since there is no other contender for the chief minister's post the name of TR Zeliang will be announced as 'consensus' choice of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) where Naga People's Front (NPF) is the principal constituent.

There are 38 NPF MLAs in the 60-member Nagaland legislative assembly.

Sources said today that 40 MLAs are now putting their weights behind TR Zeliang.

Meanwhile, another source said though the name of TR Zeliang will be announced officially as the succesor to Neiphiu Rio, Zeliang will take charge only next month.

A former Zeliangrong student union leader, TR Zeliang, 62-yr old, won the first assembly election in 1982 as an Independent from Tening assembly constituency of Nagaland bordering Manipur.

He is a Graduate from Kohima Arts College and was Rajya Sabha MP as recent as two years ago.

He contested from the NPF ticket and won the Peren assembly seat in the 2013 Nagaland assembly election.

He is presently a cabinet minister taking charge of Planning and other departments.

It may be noted here that two months ago when chief minister Neiphiu Rio's name was cleared as the consensus candidate of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) for the Lok Sabha poll in Nagaland, names of Home minister Kaito, TR Zeliang and NPF chief Shurhozelie were speculated.

However, after the poll the names of Nagaland senior minister Noke Wangnao cropped up as one of the contenders for the top post while the names of Home minister Kaito and Shurhozelie were erased from the speculation board.

Neiphiu Rio has been the chief minister since 2003.Both Neiphiu Rio and TR Zeliang were the Men-Friday of Nagaland political stalwart SC Jamir during the Congress party honey-moon days in Nagaland.

Ever since Rio ditched Jamir to revive the NPF in 2002, TR Zeliang has been the trusted lieutenant of Rio.

NPF dethroned the Jamir led Congress government in the 2003 assembly election and Neiphiu Rio became the chief minister.

Later, TR Zeliang was sent to the Parliament as the Rajya Sabha member by the Rio led DAN government.

After a one-term stint as an MP, TR Zeliang returned to the state politics and contested again in the 2013 Nagaland assembly election.

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