Kohima, January 31: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has today said he was proud to be NPF Chief Minister of the DAN coalition.

He said it took long years for him to reach this stage.

He said he joined this regional NPF party as a youth activist back in 1947, while Dr Shurhozelie was already a Minister at that time.

Delivering his Keynote Address on the occasion of the Central office Meeting of the Central Office Bearers of the NPF here at Hotel Japhu on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said there was no short cut in the leadership and further explained that one had to sacrifice and contribute a lot to reach their goal.

He further urged the NPF workers to have vision and to uphold the �Naga identity�.

�You cannot adopt someone and feel proud of it�, he stated adding they should be proud of their history and tradition.

The Chief Minister also explained as to how the party should have a firm foundation that would remain as a rock.

He mooted a cadre-based type of political movement in the State emulating CPI (M) of the West Bengal.

He pointed out unless they had such idea to have a cadre-based, they might face sometimes disintegration when they were out of power.

In this, he urged the party workers go for a massive enrolment drive in the State.

The Chief Minister also described new Nagaland Governor-designate as a �thorough gentlemen�.

He was confident that the new Governor with his political background would be able to adjust and have a balance in discharging his duties as Governor of the State.

Rio also said he could discharge his Chief Ministerial duty because of the senior party leader like Dr Shurhozelie and the support given by the party workers and further sought their continuous cooperation to accomplish their goal.

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