Former CM Neiphiu Rio elected unopposed in Nagaland

Former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been elected unopposed on Saturday in the Nagaland Assembly election effect before the counting of votes got completed.

The 67-year-old has led Nagaland for 11 years and is often described as ‘the tallest leader in Nagaland’. Having become the Chief Minister first in 2003, Rio won from the Northern Angami-II assembly seat in Kohima district as part of the Naga People's Front (NPF).

Prior to this, he had defected from the Congress and formed his party NPF. He once again won in 2008 and 2013.

Breaking away from the ruling Naga People's Front in January this year, Rio joined the fledgeling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).

He even made an alliance with the BJP, with the NDPP contesting in 40 seats in the 60-member assembly and the remaining 20 seats are being contested by the saffron party.

While he is touted as the state's next chief minister, the allegations of corruption, which he has denied, are still surrounding him. In 2014, he quit as the Chief Minister and became a member of Lok Sabha turning the people sentiment against him.

He has been placed among the three richest candidates in the fray in Nagaland by a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) with personal assets amounting to Rs 36.4 crore.

On the last day of withdrawal of nominations, his rivals pulled out of the contest declaring him once again as the winner from the Northern Angami-II seat. 

Following his victory, Rio resigned from the Lok Sabha to be able to serve as a Nagaland MLA.