BJP submits letter to Nagaland Gov. backing Neiphiu Rio as CM

Kohima (Nagaland): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday submitted a letter of support from 12 MLAs to Nagaland Governor supporting Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio as the chief ministerial candidate.

The NDPP-BJP alliance with the support of a newly-elected JD(U) MLA and an Independent legislator is all set to form the new government in Nagaland.

"The BJP has submitted letter of support from 12 MLAs to Governor supporting NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio as chief ministerial candidate of Nagaland," Union Health Minister J P Nadda confirmed to the media.

The alliance has garnered the support of the two MLAs to take their tally to 32 in the 60-member Nagaland House.

BJP won 12 seats while NDPP secured 18 seats in the just-concluded elections.

Earlier in the day, Nadda and BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh and new BJP Legislature Party leader of Nagaland Y Patton met Nagaland Governor PB Acharya at Raj Bhavan, Kohima with a support letter in favour of formation of an NDPP-BJP government under the leadership of NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio.

The new ministry will be formed under the banner of People Democratic Alliance (PDA).