Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) legislator Zhaleo Rio was elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Monday. His name was proposed by Minister for Forest Environment and Climate change and Parliamentary Affairs CM Chang and seconded Advisor, School Education, K Sukhalu.
Chief Minster Neiphiu Rio while congratulating the newly elected Deputy Speaker said the role of the chair plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of the House. The Deputy Speaker will have to carry out the responsibility of the Speaker in his absence apart from all the other responsibilities, Rio said.
Rio also said Zhaleo has vast experience and worked in various capacities as Nagaland Civil Service officer and was inducted IAS in the year 1997. He added that the new Deputy Speaker worked during the most critical times in under developed areas and rendered his services in government departments and took voluntary retirement in 2013 to join public service. With vast experience in the government, Zhaleo will be very useful for the smooth functioning of the House, Rio stated.
Zhaleo is the younger brother of the Chief Minister.
Felicitating the newly elected Deputy Speaker, Opposition leader TR Zeliang said the Opposition decided not to nominate its candidate and was pleased to make Zhaleo the Deputy Speaker of the House as he served as a bureaucrat for a long time and was elected to the House for the second time.
The Opposition bench expected that there will be impartiality and unbiased attitude particularly towards the Opposition members in the House.
Delivering his first speech as Deputy Speaker, Zhaleo said the responsibility that has been reposed on him is a solemn task which cannot be fulfilled without the true cooperation and assistance of the members of the House. Therefore, he appealed to every member of the Assembly to extend their full cooperation.