Neiphiu Rio, the chief minister of Nagaland, is celebrating his 72nd birthday today. He was born on this day in the year 1950 to parents belonging to the northern Angami village of Touphema in Kohima district.
Rio will be completing his fourth term as the CM of the state early next year (2002–07, 2007–12, 2012–14 and 2018–till date). This milestone will make him the only Nagaland chief minister to have held the position for four consecutive terms. Rio has already set a record by being the only CM in the state to have served for three successive tenures.
Neiphiu Rio was an active student before he entered mainstream politics in 1989 when he contested in the 7th General Elections of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) as a Congress (I) candidate from the Northern Angami-II constituency. He has since then held the portfolios of Nagaland’s Minister for Sports, School Education, Higher & Technical Education, Art & Culture, and Works & Housing.
Rio was Nagaland’s Home Minister under the then chief minister S C Jamir from 1998 till 2002 when he resigned from the ministry and Indian National Congress (INC) and joined Naga People’s Front (NPF).
He ascended to the position of Chief Minister when the Coalition of NPF, regional parties and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), under the umbrella Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), won the 2003 election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish Neiphiu Rio on his birthday where he praised the CM saying, “Under his leadership, Nagaland is making remarkable progress in many sectors.”
Birthday wishes to Nagaland CM Shri @Neiphiu_Rio. Under his leadership, Nagaland is making remarkable progress in many sectors. I pray for his long and healthy life.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2022
Other high profiled politicians who wished the CM of Nagaland were G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister For Culture, Tourism And Development Of North Eastern Region (DoNER); Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways; Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME); Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Law and Justice; Om Birla, Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha; and Himanta Biswa Sarma, CM of Assam, to name a few.
Birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri @Neiphiu_Rio Ji. May you be blessed with good health and long life.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) November 11, 2022
Birthday greetings to the very senior leader & Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri @Neiphiu_Rio ji.
I pray for his good health and long life to take Nagaland to greater heights. pic.twitter.com/jTAlwkI46e— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 11, 2022
Birthday wishes to Shri Neiphiu Rio Ji, Chief Minister of Nagaland. May God bestow upon you good health and a long life. Wish you success in all your endeavours as you continue to work for the people of Nagaland and the country.@Neiphiu_Rio
— Om Birla (@ombirlakota) November 11, 2022
Heartiest birthday wishes Hon’ble CM Shri @Neiphiu_Rio ji. Your dedication towards the development of Nagaland is exemplary.
May the Almighty grant you good health and a long life in the service of the nation. pic.twitter.com/UVV1cNzVSa
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 11, 2022
