TR Zeliang being sworn-in as Chief Minister of Nagaland. Will prove his majority on July 21

Naga People's Front leader and ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland chairman TR Zeliang was today sworn-in as the chief minister of Nagaland, five months after he had to resign amidst state-wide protests.Governor PB Acharya administered him the oath of office. Mr Zeliang later confirmed that he would face the floor test to prove his majority in the state Assembly on July 21. The Cabinet members will be sworn-in only after the floor test, he said.The governor has asked him to prove his majority in the Assembly on or before July 22.Mr Zeliang becomes the 19th chief minister of the Northeastern state. He was appointed as the chief minister in the morning by the governor as the embattled incumbent Shurhozelie Liezietsu and his supporters failed to turn up to prove majority in the House as directed by Gauhati High Court yesterday. The House was then adjourned indefinitely.The court had dismissed Mr Liezietsu's petition for a stay on the governor's directive to him to seek vote of confidence in the House on or before July 15.

Mr Zeliang returns to the helm after a gap of five months. He had to quit on February 19 amidst the state-wide uproar over elections to urban local bodies with 33 per cent reservation for women.He had approached the Governor on July 9 claiming the support of 42 Naga People's Front MLAs in the House, with an effective strength of 59.