TR Zeliang appointed as Chief Minister of Nagaland

TR Zeliang was on 19 July 2017 appointed as the Chief Minister of Nagaland by Governor PB Acharya. This will be the second term for Zeliang, his earlier term was from 2014 to 2017.

Zeliang's appointment came after Nagaland Chief Minister Shurhozelie Liezietsu and nine ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislators failed to appear for the floor test.

Zeliang was asked to prove his majority on the floor of the House on or before 22 July 2017. Zeliang claims the support of 43 MLAs including seven independents.

Comment
Since the formation of new government in the North-Eastern state, Nagaland has been undergoing a constitutional crisis.

The crisis outspread after Chief Minister Liezietsu was accused of nepotism by the members of opposition when he supposedly appointed his son as an advisor with the rank of a cabinet minister and pay.

In order to cool the situation, Governor PB Acharya on 18 July 2017 directed the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly to conduct a floor test on 19 July 2017. Liezietsu was required to prove his majority in the house to continue as the head of the government.

Liezietsu was appointed as the CM of Nagaland after the former Chief Minister TR Zeliang faced rigid resistance from local tribes over the introduction of 33 per cent reservation for women candidates in the civic bodies.