Nagaland poll results: NDPP's Neiphiu Rio meets Governor PB Acharya, stakes claim to form government

On Sunday, NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio  met Governor PB Acharya and staked his claim to form Nagaland government. Rio said he had the support of 32 MLAs in Nagaland’s 60-member Assembly. [caption id=“attachment_4375213” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Neiphiu Rio. Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters[/caption] After the meeting, Acharya said Rio has the majority and should form the government. According to PTI, Acharya asked Rio to submit the signatures of all the 32 MLAs supporting him by Monday. The NDPP and the BJP have won 18 and 12 seats respectively while the lone JD(U) MLA G Kaito Aye and Independent legislator Tongpang Ozukum were backing the alliance, NDPP general secretary Abu Metha said. Rio met the governor along with NDPP president Chingwang Konyak, BJP state president Visasolie Lhoungu, the JD(U) MLA and the Independent legislator, he added. The 67-year-old leader, who is often described as the ’tallest leader in Nagaland’ led the state for 11 years. He became the chief minister of Nagaland in 2003 upon winning the Northern Angami-II Assembly. He also won in 2008 and 2013. With inputs from PTI