Dimapur, March 12 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday announced the list of the portfolio allocated to his Council of Ministers.
According to a press release issued by the media and communication cell, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the Chief Minister will hold Finance, will be in charge of Department of Personnel & Administrative Reform and all important policy issues; and all other portfolios not allocated to any minister.
Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton had been given in charge of Home and National Highways. G Kaito Aye has been given the portfolio of Agriculture and Cooperation; CM Chang will be incharge of Forest, Environment & Climate Change, and Parliamentary Affairs; Neiba Kronu has been given incharge of Planning & Coordination, and Land Revenue.
S Pangnyu will take care of Health & Family Welfare while P. Paiwang will be incharge of Transport, Civil Aviation & Railways, and Land Resources. Jacob Zhimomi has been given incharge of Public Health Engineering.
Urban Development & Municipal Affairs went to Metsubo Jamir, while Tongpang Ozukum has been given incharge of Public Works Department and Kashiho Sangtam with Soil & Water Conservation, and Women & Child Development. Temjen Imna Along has been given the charge of Higher Education & Technical Education.
Disgruntlement within coalition ranks still lingers
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 12
The sailing has not been all that smooth for the fledgling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) coalition. The coalition ranks is purportedly rife with disgruntlement even as the Chief Minister’s Office finally released the list of the Council of Ministers and their porfolios on March 12.
If reports, though hushed, emerging from within the ruling NDPP-BJP - camp is any indication, apportioning ‘portfolio’ turned out to be a bigger hurdle for the CM-elect. Clearly the backbone of the PDA, the BJP MLAs apparently have laid claim to plum portfolios much to the chagrin of their NDPP counterparts.
As per sources in the coalition camp, the BJP MLAs hinging on their position as ‘kingmaker’ are sticking to their guns. While the BJP got six Cabinet ranks, the other six want plum positions as ‘chairpersons’ of certain government departments, the sources said.
This apparently has affected portfolio reshuffling even after Ram Madhav gave the nod of approval to a list when he hurriedly flew into Nagaland on March 10. All the BJP MLAs, except one, who were camping in Kohima had come down to Dimapur on March 10 and were engaged in a series of meetings till Sunday. The BJP MLAs had also met the CM-elect on Sunday before rushing to Kohima on Monday to hold more meetings.
The reports of disgruntlement though were all speculative with none from the PDA camp confirming. Pro-tem Speaker Mmhonlumo Kikon responded “No” when asked if there was any truth to the reports. Kikon had not attended Sunday’s meeting with the CM-elect in Dimapur on Sunday.
However, a comment from the BJP party ranks gave some sense of credence to the speculation. According to a party official, there were murmurs among the party circles hinting at the BJP withdrawing support “if they don’t get the desired portfolios.” The official though brushed it off as nothing serious as “it normally happens” during government formation, while adding that such talk of discontentment was quite apparent even on the day of the swearing-in on March 8.
Another angle to the suspense and delay in announcing of portfolios was of the NPF allegedly offering 8 Cabinet berths to the BJP if it sides with the NPF. “Can neither admit nor deny that there is such an offer because in times like this, a lot of bargaining takes place,” said the BJP official.
State BJP President, V. Lhoungu straightaway denied receiving such an offer from the NPF. While no legislator from the PDA was forthcoming enough to respond to calls, only the NPF camp appeared to be taking calls from the media.
MLA Imkong L. Imchen when asked on the alleged NPF offer to the BJP replied that they have not made any such offer. He remarked, on a lighter note, “We are happy to sit in the opposition bench.”
