Shürhozelie to be sworn in as Nagaland’s 17th CM today

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 21  

Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu will be sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Nagaland today at 11:00 am at Raj Bhavan, Kohima. The 81-year-old who has been member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) eight times will be the oldest to take oath as the Chief Minister of the State.  

The new Chief Minister, who did not contest in the 2013 election, is not a sitting member of the NLA. He will have to get elected within six months from taking office.  

Dr. Shürhozelie had yesterday pledged to work towards bringing back normalcy in Nagaland and hoped that good sense will prevail. While appealing to the people of Nagaland to initiate a healing process, he acknowledged that only together can the Nagas achieve their goal.  

Born on November 20, 1936 in Kohima Village, Dr. Shürhozelie joined politics in 1969. He is one of the founding members of Nagaland’s first regional party, United Democratic Front (UDF) and later Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP). He was also crucial in the formation of Nagaland People’s Front in 2002.  

After his matriculation in 1956 from Kohima Government High School, he completed his graduation from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. He reportedly started his career as a clerk in the state secretariat, but later turned to teaching.  

Dr. Shürhozelie has authored 42 books on poetry, novels, history, drama, translations, and several of his books are part of the syllabus in Nagaland University. He was conferred an honorary D.Litt. by the Nagaland University in 2003.  

Dr. Shürhozelie replaces TR Zeliang who resigned from the Chief Minister’s post on February 19.