Morung Express News The first session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) was held on March 13, 2018. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is heading the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA), also won the vote of confidence in the State assembly. Rio proved his majority on the floor of the House by obtaining 33 votes of the 59 polled votes while 26 legislators from Naga People’s Front (NPF) voted against the Chief Minister in the first session. Earlier, on March 8, 2018, he was officially administrated the oath of office by Nagaland’s Governor PB Acharya and became the 20th Chief Minister of Nagaland in a public swearing-in ceremony held in Kohima. With this, Rio became the 2nd person in Nagaland, after Governor of Odisha Dr. SC Jamir, to hold the Chief Minister’s chair for 4 times. Rio first assumed office on March 6, 2003 before becoming the only Chief Minister of Nagaland to have served three consecutive terms between 2003 and 2014. His fourth innings started from March 8. NLA Brief History: The State of Nagaland was formally inaugurated on December 1, 1963 as the 16th State of the Indian Union. 
However, the first General Election to the 1st NLA was held only in 1964 in 40 Assembly Constituencies (AC) with 73 candidates in fray. There were 124166 voters out of which 62719 voted with a poll percentage of 50.51. Incidentally all the candidates contested as Independent. But later the Naga Nationalist Organisation (NNO) government was formed. Shilu Ao, who was earlier appointed as the first Executive Councilor in the Interim Government, became the first chief minister of Nagaland after the elections to the state assembly. He was elected unopposed from Impur AC. The first Nagaland Legislative Assembly was formed on February 11, 1964. Shilu Ao held the office till August 14, 
1966, after which he was replaced by T.N. Angami to complete the first tenure of NLA. The election to the 2nd NLA in 1969 holds significance as it was the first time two women candidates contested the elections and managed to give healthy competition. Ravole-ü contested on a United Front of Nagaland (UFN) ticket from 6 - Western Angami AC while RL Kinghen contested from 40 – Bhandari AC as an Independent. Both the women candidates managed to poll in 32.60% and 37.03% of the total votes in their respective 
constituencies. NNO which won the majority of 22 seats formed the government, and Hokishe Sema became the third Chief Minister of Nagaland in February 22, 1969. He held the office till February 1974. It was only in the third election to the NLA in 1974 that the assembly constituency in Nagaland was expanded to 60 seats. The ensuing elections saw 219 candidates – none of them women. The result was: NNO – 23; United Democratic Front – 25 and 12 Independents. With a fractured verdict, a government led by UDF with Vizol Angami as Chief Minister assumed office in February 26, 1974. But it only lasted 
till March 10, 1975 as Vizol was replaced by John Bosco Jasokie on March 10 under the Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP). However, this government also did not last long and Nagaland came under the 1st President's Rule in March 20, 1975 which lasted more than 2 years till November 25, 1977. As a result, the election to the 4th NLA was held in 1977. It was the first that a national party – the Indian National Congress contested in the state election. However, UDF emerged as the big winner with 35 seats while INC managed 
to get 15 seats. The National Convention of Nagaland won 9 seats while 1 seat went to an Independent. Thereafter, a UDF government was formed and Vizol Angami became the Chief Minister for the second time on November 25, 1977. However, this government couldn’t last a full term and in April 18, 1980, he was replaced by SC Jamir as the Chief Minister under the United Democratic Front-Progressive (UDF-P) Government for a brief period. Jamir was later replaced by Jasokie in his second innings as Chief Minister under Naga National Democratic Party on June 5, 1980 to complete the term of 4th NLA till November 1982. The elections to the 5th NLA held in November 1982 saw the third women contestant in the history of the state assembly. 
Rano M. Shazia contested from 8 - Western Angami AC and polled in 9.68% or 637 of the total 6598 votes. The winner’s vote share was 1780. The 5th NLA once again produced a hung assembly with INC and NNDP getting equal seats at 24 each while Independent won 12 seats. For the second time, SC Jamir become the Chief Minister under United Democratic Front-Progressive and assumed office on November 18, 1982. It lasted till October 26, 1986. The 1987 Election to 6th NLA holds significance as it was the first time two national parties were in fray - INC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They contested in 60 and 2 seats respectively. Again, it was the first time a national party managed to win absolute majority in the state assembly with the Congress Party (INC) winning 34 seats. Three women candidate were on fray. Hokishe Sema, who assumed office under the INC led government 
became the Chief Minister before the election and continued his tenure. However, the 6th NLA couldn’t finish its term and the state came under the President's Rule for the second time on August 7, 1988. The PR lasted till January 25, 1989 and the elections to the 7th NLA were held in 1989. This time round, the INC won 36 seats and formed the government with SC Jamir as Chief Minister. He assumed office on January 25, 1989 for a historic 3rd term. But the 7th NLA saw three chief ministers – first KL Chishi replaced Jamir in May, 1990 under INC for a brief period before being replaced by Vamuzo Phesao in June 19, 1990 under the Nagaland People's Council. Vamuzo ruled for nearly two years before the state was placed under President’s Rule for the 3rd time on April 2, 1992 which lasted till February 22, 1993. When elections to the 8th NLA were held in 1993, the INC again emerged victorious winning 35 seats. BJP fielded six but lost all. The lone woman candidate, RL Kinghen contested on INC ticket from 37 – Tyui AC. A Congress government assumed office with SC Jamir as the Chief Minister for record 4th time on February 22, 1993 
and completed two terms on March 6, 2003. The election 9th NLA in 1998 hold significance all the opposition parties boycotted the poll, and only the ruling Congress and Independent on fray. Jamir became the Chief Minister for a record 5th time. The 2003 election to 10th NLA saw the return of regional party with Nagaland People's Front forming the government even though the election produced a hung verdict. Congress couldn’t form the government despite being the single largest party with 21 seats. For the first time, BJP registered win with 7 seats. Again, three women contested but lost the election. A government headed by NPF was formed though it got only 19 seats. Rio became the Chief Minister for the first time in March 6, 2003 lasting till January 2008 before the state briefly went into another President’s Rule (IV) from January 3, 2008 – March 12, 2008. When the elections for 11th NLA was held in 2008, NPF won 26 seats and formed the government with Rio returning as the Chief Minister for second time on March 12, 2008. A record four women unsuccessfully contested in the election. 
Rio continued in the office over two terms till May 23, 2014, after which he vacated the seat to TR Zeliang on May 24, 2014 after he was elected as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha in 2014. Zeliang held the office till February 2017, after which Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu took over the chair of the Chief Minister for a brief period from February 22 to July 18, 2017. However, Zeliang would return to the Chief Minister’s chair on July 19, 2017 to finish the full term of 12th NLA till March 2018. In a record, there were five women contestants in the election to 13th NLA. The latest elections, however, returned with a fractured mandate. The Nationalist Democratic People’s Party (NDPP) managed to stitch up an alliance with the BJP and others and Neiphiu Rio of returned as the Chief Minister for the 4th time. 
Source: www.nagaland.gov.in/portal/portal/StatePortal/Government/ChiefMinister
