DAN set to stake claim in Nagaland

The Nagaland People's Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland is set to stake claim on Tuesday to form a coalition government, with S C Jamir on Monday resigning as chief minister and clearing the decks for the four-party alliance regime.

"The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland will elect its leader tomorrow at a meeting here and we may meet the governor by tomorrow evening," NPF spokesman and former power minister in the Jamir cabinet, K Therie said in Kohima.

Besides mustering committed support from four independents for the four-party alliance, which clinched 29 seats out of 56 seats, DAN also received assurances of support during the day from the Nationalist Democratic Movement, Therie said.

Although the DAN was to hold the meeting of coalition partners Monday, non-availability of Janata Dal (United) leaders in the state postponed the deliberation till Tuesday, he said.

Earlier in the day, the NPF unanimously elected former home minister Neiphiu Rio the leader of legislature party and said the priority of the all would be to seek an honourable settlement to the Naga political and development issues in the state.

In all likelihood, Rio, who spearheaded the anti-Jamir campaign in the run-up to the polls, might be elected the DAN leader, alliance sources hinted.

They said that the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former chief minister Hokishe Sema has already expressed unwillingness to stake claim for the top slot.

Soon after his election as legislature party leader, Rio told newsmen that if DAN forms the government, its top priority would be to find an amicable settlement to the Naga problem and to rebuild the state's economy as promised to the people in the common minimum programme of the alliance.

NPF president and former chief minister Vizol in a statement said DAN would form the next government within a day or two, and its priority would be to restore democracy, provide a stable regime, salvage the state's economy and help restore permanent peace in the state.

During the day Jamir tendered his resignation to governor Shyamal Datta, who asked him to continue till alternative arrangements could be made, Raj Bhavan sources said.