Zhaleo Rio elected as Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Assembly

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) legislator Zhaleo Rio, the brother of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, was on Monday elected the Deputy Speaker of the state assembly

Parliamentary Affairs Minister C.M. Chang proposed his name and it was seconded by K.T. Sukhalu, following which Speaker Vikho-o Yhosu declared Zhaleo elected to the post as the Opposition decided not to nominate their candidate.

A former IAS officer, Zhaleo was elected to the Nagaland Assembly from Ghaspani II Assembly constituency for two consecutive terms since 2013.

Congratulating him, Chief Minster Neiphiu Rio urged all the members cutting across party lines to support and extend cooperation to the newly-elected Deputy Speaker.

Naga People's Front leader and Opposition Leader, T.R Zeliang said that they respected the calibre of Zhaleo Rio, who has been a bureaucrat for a long time and a member of the house for the second time, and hence decided not to nominate their candidate and were pleased to make him the Deputy Speaker.

"The Nagaland Assembly has a high and rich tradition and heritage. The Opposition Bench expect that there will be impartiality and unbiased attitude particularly towards the Opposition members," he said.

In his first speech as Deputy Speaker, Zhaleo Rio said that he was grateful to all the members of the house for electing him unopposed, holding that the responsibility that has been imposed on him "is a solemn task which cannot be fulfilled without the true cooperation and assistance of the members of the house".

He promised to sincerely strive to sustain the assembly's high tradition of decorum, decency and dignity.

--IANS

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