Neiphiu Rio, who was elected the leader of the BJP-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led alliance government, on Thursday took the oath for the fourth time as the chief minister of Nagaland and assured more transparency and a “positive change” in the northeastern state. Yanthungo Patton, the state Bharatiya Janata Party leader, was also sworn in as the deputy chief minister during a high profile ceremony held at the Local Ground in the heart of Kohima, also the venue where the statehood of Nagaland was announced in 1963. “We have chosen to conduct this programme at this historic venue in honour of the people we are going to serve,” Rio said addressing a public meeting after the oath-taking ceremony. He also promised to end the “VIP culture” in Nagaland. “We will ensure the citizens are the real VIP. The people and the masses are the real high command,” the newly-elected chief minister said.

Neiphiu Rio, who was elected the leader of the BJP-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led alliance government, on Thursday took the oath for the fourth time as the chief minister of Nagaland and assured more transparency and a “positive change” in the northeastern state. Yanthungo Patton, the state Bharatiya Janata Party leader, was also sworn in as the deputy chief minister during a high profile ceremony held at the Local Ground in the heart of Kohima, also the venue where the statehood of Nagaland was announced in 1963. “We have chosen to conduct this programme at this historic venue in honour of the people we are going to serve,” Rio said addressing a public meeting after the oath-taking ceremony. He also promised to end the “VIP culture” in Nagaland. “We will ensure the citizens are the real VIP. The people and the masses are the real high command,” the newly-elected chief minister said.