The National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio on March 8 took oath as Nagaland chief minister for the fourth time.

Rio formed the coalition government of NDPP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Christian-majority northeastern Indian state after defeating the Naga People’s Front in recent Assembly Elections.

Here are some facts about new Nagaland chief minister.

Neiphiu Rio was born on November 11, 1950, as the son of late Guolhoulie Rio of Tuophema village in Kohima district. He belongs to the Angami Naga tribe.

Rio did his schooling from Baptist English School, Kohima, and Sainik School, Purulia, West Bengal. He then studied at St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, and graduated from Kohima Arts College.

He was just 22 when he entered politics. His major post was as the president of Kohima District Youth Wing of United Democratic Front.

Rio was elected to Nagaland Legislative Assembly as Congress (I) candidate from the Northern Angami-II constituency in 1989.

Rio revived the Naga People’s Council (NPC), after he left Congress following differences with the party. Rio renamed NPC to Nagaland People’s Front and later Naga People’s Front.

Rio was appointed as the minister for Sports and School Education and minister for Higher and Technical Education and Art and Culture. He also served as the chairman of Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation, Nagaland Khadi and Village Industries Board and Development Authority of Nagaland.

Earlier as a Congress man, Rio had served as Nagaland’s home minister under S C Jamir during 1998- 2002.

On May 20, 1995, Rio survived an assassination attempt by a group of armed men who attacked his motorcade at Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial capital. Hi driver was killed and many bodyguards were injured in the attack.

Rio is the richest legislator in Nagaland with assets over 360 million rupees, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms.

He played a key role in setting up the Music Task Force, the first music industry in the country. Rio was awarded the Mother Teresa Millennium award in 2007 for his outstanding contributions to politics.

(Newsx)