Tripura, March 09: The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland with 34 members, including four Independents, met the Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan this evening and formally staked claim to form the next Government in the State.

After electing Neiphiu Rio as the DAN legislature party leader, the MLAs of NPF (26), BJP (2) and NCP (2), accompanied by Lok Sabha MP of NPF W Konyak, met the Governor.

The four Independents told the Governor that they have formed a group and would extend support to Rio as the DAN legislature party leader besides extending individual support.

The result of one more seat Suruhuto is awaited as repolling will be held there tomorrow, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.

Nephiu Rio elected DAN legislature party leader: The NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, which claimed to have received 'committed support' from four Independents, elected Neiphiu Rio as the DAN legislature party leader after a meeting this afternoon.

The alliance is likely to stake claim to form the next Government.

Winning 30 seats out of 59 results declared in the 60-member assembly, just one short of the absolute majority, the four-party alliance said it might meet the Governor today itself.

Nagaland People's Front, which emerged as the single largest party winning 25 seats, is expected to wrest another seat in Zunheboto district where counting of votes at three assembly segments commenced this noon.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer said repoll at four polling stations under three constituencies yesterday passed off peacefully with a good turnout.

DAN sources said the alliance, comprising NPF (26), NCP (2) and BJP (2), had already mustered committed support from three Independents yesterday itself as soon as the election results were declared.

However, they refused to divulge the names.

Meanwhile, hectic politicking is on in the state after yesterday's poll results.

The Congress, which expects to win at least one more seat in Zunheboto that would take its tally to 24, is also likely to make a last-ditch attempt to form government seeking support from 'legislators of like-minded parties' in the opposite camp and Independents.

Running neck-and-neck with NPF, the Congress secured second position with 23 seats.

NPCC sources today hinted that it would 'not be so difficult' for the party to muster a working majority if it wins two more seats pointing out that the pre-poll alliance of DAN was "a loose arrangement and in politics anything can happen".

But NPCC president Hokheto Sumi immediately after the March five elections had said if the party failed to cross the 25 mark, it would prefer to sit in the opposition.

For both DAN and Congress, it would be a difficult job to provide a stable regime depending much on Independents as the size of Nagaland ministry is 12, including the chief minister, under the new anti-defection rules.

Comment