Neipiu Rio Biography

Neiphiu Rio

Neiphiu Rio took over as the Chief Minister of the northeastern state of Nagaland on 12 March 2008. He led the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) a coalition of Nagaland regional parties and the state BJP.

Neiphiu Rio belongs to the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) and contested the Assembly election from Northern Angami constituency of Nagaland in 2008.

Background

Rio belongs to the Angami tribe of Nagaland. He was born on 11 November 1950 at village Touphema, Kohima. His father was late Shri Guolhouli Rio. Rio was educated at Baptist English School Kohima and Sainik School Purulia. He then studied at St Joseph’s College Darjeeling and received a B.A. degree from Kohima Arts College.

He is married and has five daughters and one son.

Political Career

An active Student leader in his School and College days, Sri Neiphiu Rio entered into the realm politics at a very young age. He had headed many prestigious organizations before becoming the Nagaland Chief Minister.

He was an active youth leader and became the President of the UDF (Kohima district) in 1974. In 1976, he was made the President of the UDF Youth Wing (Nagaland).

He served as the Northern Area Angami Council Chairman from 1984 to 1987. He became a member of the All India Congress Committee in 1993.

In 1989, he was elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly as a Congress candidate from Northern Angami constituency and appointed Minister for Sports and School Education. He was later given the portfolio of Higher & Technical Education and Art & culture.

In 1993, he was re-elected from the same constituency as a Congress candidate and appointed Minister Works and Housing.

In 1998, he was again elected from Northern Angami and appointed Home Minister. In September 2002, he resigned from the Ministry and in November 2002 resigned from the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He subsequently resigned from the Congress party itself.

In November 2002, he founded the Nagaland People’s front and contested the elections as a NPF candidate from Northern Angami and was elected. He was then elected leader of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) – a coalition of parties- and became the Chief Minister on 6th march 2003. He remained CM till 3rd January 2008 when President’s rule was imposed on the State.

He was reelected to the Assembly in the 11th Nagaland Assembly elections in 2008, and again elected leader of the DAN. He then assumed the office of the Chief Minister on 12 March 2008.