Neiphiu Rio

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Neiphiu Rio

| image = NeiphiuRio.jpg

| caption = Rio in 2010

| birth_name = Neiphiu Guolhoulie Rio

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|11|11}}

| birth_place = Tuophema, Naga Hills District, Assam, India
(now in Kohima district, Nagaland, India)

| residence = Sovima

| death_date =

| death_place =

| office = 9th Chief Minister of Nagaland

| constituency =

| deputy = {{ubl|T. R. Zeliang (since 2023)|Y. Patton (since 2018)}}

| termstart = 8 March 2018

| termend =

| predecessor = T. R. Zeliang

| governor = {{ubl|Padmanabha Acharya|R. N. Ravi|Jagdish Mukhi|La. Ganesan}}

| governor1 = {{ubl|K. Sankaranarayanan|Gurbachan Jagat|Nikhil Kumar (governor)|Ashwani Kumar (police officer)}}

| governor2 =Shyamal Datta

| termstart1 = 12 March 2008

| termend1 = 24 May 2014

| predecessor1 = President's rule

| successor1 = T. R. Zeliang

| termstart2 = 6 March 2003

| termend2 = 3 January 2008

| predecessor2 = S. C. Jamir

| successor2 = President's rule

| office3 = Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

| constituency3 = Nagaland

| termstart3 = 26 May 2014

| termend3 = 28 February 2018

| predecessor3 = C. M. Chang

| successor3 = Tokheho Yepthomi

| otherparty = {{bulletedlist|National Democratic Alliance|United Progressive Alliance|North-East Democratic Alliance|Democratic Alliance of Nagaland}}

| party = {{bulletedlist|Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (2018–present)|Naga People's Front (2002–2017)|Indian National Congress (1989–2002)}}

| spouse = Kaisa Rio

| website =

| office4 = Leader of the House of Nagaland Legislative Assembly

| date =

| year =

| source = https://nagaland.nic.in/functionaries/assembly/minispage/rio.htm Nagaland Government

| relatives = Zhaleo Rio (brother)

}}

Neiphiu Guolhoulie Rio (born 11 November 1950) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 9th and current Chief Minister of Nagaland since 2018, previously 2003 to 2014 and from 2018 till date. He is the only Nagaland Chief Minister to have served five consecutive terms, and is the longest serving Chief Minister of Nagaland. He was also a Member of Parliament from Nagaland in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2018.

Early life and education

Neiphiu Guolhoulie Rio was born on 11 November 1950 to an Angami Naga family from Tuophema. His mother and father were Kevilhouü and Guolhoulie Rio.{{Cite web|date=9 March 2018|title=Who is Neiphiu Rio?|url=https://mattersindia.com/2018/03/who-is-neiphiu-rio/|access-date=22 September 2020|website=Matters India|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Chief Minister: Government of Nagaland :: Neiphiu Rio|url=https://www.nagaland.gov.in/portal/portal/StatePortal/Government/ChiefMinister|access-date=21 September 2020|website=Nagaland Government}} He received his early education from Baptist English School, Kohima and Sainik School, Purulia, West Bengal. He attended college at St Joseph's College, Darjeeling and later graduated from Kohima Arts College.{{Cite news|title=Nagaland: Tribal body claims rich, influential exempted from institutional quarantine|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/17/nagaland-tribal-body-claims-rich-influential-exempted-from-institutional-quarantine-2144530.html|newspaper=The New Indian Express|access-date=14 April 2022}}

An active student leader during his School and College days, Rio entered politics at a very young age. He had headed many organisations before becoming the Chief Minister of Nagaland. He served as the President of Kohima District United Democratic Front (UDF) Youth Wing in 1974. He was also appointed the Chairman of Northern Angami Area Council in 1984. He also had been the honorary Vice-President of Indian Red Cross Society Nagaland branch.{{cite web|url=http://nagaland.nic.in/minister/rio.htm|title=Bio-Data of Neiphiu Rio|website=nagaland.nic.in|access-date=21 September 2020}}

Political career

On entering politics, Rio contested the Nagaland Assembly elections of 1987 unsuccessfully as an Independent Candidate. Rio was first elected to Nagaland Legislative Assembly as Congress (I) candidate from the Northern Angami-II constituency during the 7th General Elections of 1989. He was appointed the Minister for Sports and School Education and subsequently as Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Art & Culture; also served as Chairman in Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation, Nagaland Khadi & Village Industries Board and Development Authority of Nagaland. Rio was again elected from the same Constituency in 1993 as Congress (I) candidate and appointed Minister for Works & Housing.[https://nagaland.gov.in/portal/portal/StatePortal/Government/ChiefMinister Nagaland Government State Portal- Neiphiu Rio] As a member of the Indian National Congress, Rio was Nagaland's Home Minister as part of the cabinet headed by S. C. Jamir from 1998 till 2002 when he resigned from the ministry accusing Chief Minister S. C. Jamir of blocking a negotiated settlement of the vexed Naga issue.{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Nagaland home minister Neiphiu Rio resigns |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nagaland-home-minister-neiphiu-rio-resigns/articleshow/22785212.cms |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=20 September 2002 |language=en}}

= As Chief Minister =

File:The Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri N. Rio along with a delegation called on the Union Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil in New Delhi on June 2, 2004.jpg in New Delhi on 2 June 2004.]]

After his resignation, Rio joined Naga People's Front which partnered with other Naga regionalist parties and the state branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under his leadership to form the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), a coalition which won the 2003 state elections, bringing the 10-year-long rule of the Indian National Congress in the state to an end. Rio subsequently took office as Chief Minister on 6 March 2003.

Before completing his first term, Rio was dismissed as Chief Minister when President's Rule was imposed in Nagaland on 3 January 2008.{{cite news |last=Press Trust of India |date=6 January 2008 |title=Rio hints at going to court |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/06/stories/2008010657970100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107025917/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/06/stories/2008010657970100.htm |archive-date=7 January 2008 |access-date=14 April 2022 |newspaper=The Hindu}} However, his party emerged as the single largest party in the ensuing elections and Rio, as the leader of DAN, was invited by the state Governor to form the government on 12 March 2008. During the 2013 Nagaland State elections, NPF won a thumping majority and Rio was re-elected as Chief Minister for a third term.{{cite news|last=PTI|date=5 March 2013|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/neiphiu-rio-11-ministers-take-oath-in-nagaland/article4478545.ece|title=Neiphiu Rio, 11 ministers take oath in Nagaland|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=14 April 2022}}

At a memorial service in Kohima for the victims of 2021 Nagaland killings, Rio said "I am hopeful that the country and the rest of the world will not only understand the Nagas’ story but also the want for lasting peace."{{Cite news |last1=Nath |first1=Hemanta Kumar |date=9 December 2021 |title=Oting incident was a misuse and abuse of AFSPA: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/oting-incident-was-a-misuse-and-abuse-of-afspa-nagaland-cm-neiphiu-rio-1886171-2021-12-09 |access-date=23 January 2022 |work=India Today|language=en}}

Achievements

Rio has played a key role in setting up the Music Task Force, the first music industry in the country. He was awarded The Mother Teresa Millennium award for his outstanding leadership and contributions to politics in Kolkata in the year 2007.{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/05/01/rio-receives-mother-teresa-award-1178008637.html|title=Nagaland: Rio receives Mother Teresa award |access-date=14 April 2022 |website=Oneindia.com |date=1 May 2007}}

Personal life

Rio is married to Kaisa Rio. Together they have five daughters and one son.{{cite news|last=Taneja|first=Richa|date=8 March 2018|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/know-all-about-incumbent-neiphiu-rio-the-new-chief-minister-of-nagaland-1821287|title=All About Neiphiu Rio, Nagaland's Chief Minister For Fourth Term|newspaper=NDTV|access-date=14 April 2022}} His brother Zhaleo Rio was elected to Nagaland Assembly in 2013 and 2019 from Ghaspani II Constituency and was the Deputy Speaker of the assembly in 2018. His mother Kevilhouü Rio died on 1 January 2020, at the age of 92. His father had died 30 years before his mother's death.{{Cite web|date=1 January 2020|title=Nagaland Chief minister mother passes away|url=https://www.nagalandpost.com/nagaland-cm-neiphiu-rio-s-mother-passes-away/209009.html|access-date=24 June 2020|website=Nagaland Post}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20050403201615/http://www.nagaland.nic.in/functionaries/assembly/minispage/rio.htm Profile] at Nagaland NIC.
{{Commons category-inline|Neiphiu Rio}}
[https://www.insidene.com/neiphiu-rio-extends-best-wishes-to-khrievitso-kense-youngest-player-shortlisted-for-ipl-auction/ Neiphiu Rio extends ‘best wishes’ to Khrievitso Kense, youngest player shortlisted for IPL auction]

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Nagaland |years=2014 – 2018}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief Minister of Nagaland|years=6 March 2003 – 3 January 2008}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief Minister of Nagaland|years=12 March 2008 – 24 May 2014}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief Minister of Nagaland|years=8 March 2018 – Present}}

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Naga people

Category:Chief ministers of Nagaland

Category:Sainik School alumni

Category:People from Kohima district

Category: People from Kohima

Category:India MPs 2014–2019