T. R. Zeliang | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Zeliang in 2017 | |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland | |
| Assumed office 7 March 2023 Serving with Y. Patton | |
| Governor | La Ganesan |
| Chief Minister | Neiphiu Rio |
| Preceded by | I.K. Sema (1989) |
| 10th Chief Minister of Nagaland | |
| In office 19 July 2017 – 8 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Shürhozelie Liezietsu |
| Succeeded by | Neiphiu Rio |
| In office 24 May 2014 – 20 February 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Neiphiu Rio |
| Succeeded by | Shürhozelie Liezietsu |
| Leader Of Opposition (LoP)Nagaland Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 15 March 2018 – 7 May 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Member ofNagaland Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Vatsu Meru |
| Constituency | Peren |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1952-02-21)21 February 1952 (age 73) Mbaupungwa,Assam,India (now inNagaland,India) |
| Political party | Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party |
| Other political affiliations | Naga People's Front |
| Spouse | Kevizenuo Rangkau |
| Residence(s) | Rangkau Mansion, Dimapur, Nagaland |
Taditui Rangkau Zeliang (born 21 February 1952)[1] is an Indian politician who is currently serving as theDeputy Chief Minister of Nagaland under Neiphiu Rio. He has served twice as theChief Minister ofNagaland, from May 2014 to February 2017 and from July 2017 to March 2018.[2] A leader of theNaga People's Front, T. R. Zeliang previously served as a Member of Parliament, representing Nagaland in theRajya Sabha, the upper house of theIndian Parliament. He served as the Chairman ofUnited Democratic Alliance (Nagaland) and was former leader of the NPF Legislature Party and formerLeader of Opposition inNagaland Legislative Assembly.He represents thePeren Assembly constituency in Nagaland Legislative Assembly since 2008.[3]
T. R. Zeliang was born to Rangleu Zeliang on 21 February 1952 to a Zeliang Naga family ofMbaupungwa village under Peren district.[1][4] He received his early education and matriculated from Don Bosco High School inDibrugarh, Assam and served as the President of Zeliangrong Students Union, General Secretary of Zeliangrong Action Committee and Zeliangrong Youth Organisation while in college.[4] He later entered politics and became the President of Peren District Youth Congress of theIndian National Congress.[5]
Zeliang contested the Nagaland Assembly elections of 1982 and 1987 unsuccessfully from 6 Tening Assembly Constituency.[4][6] He then won from Tening four times in a row beginning with the elections of 1989 as a candidate of the Naga People's Council[4] and subsequently in 1993, 1998 and 2003 as a candidate of theIndian National Congress.[4][7][8] He served asMinister of State for Information and Tourism during 1989–90 and as Minister of State for Relief & Rehabilitation from 1994 to 1998. During 1998 – 2003, he was the Minister for Environment and Forests and Geology and Mining under the Ministry ofS C Jamir.[4][8] He formed Nagaland Congress in year 2003 and later merged it intoNaga People's Front (NPF).[4] From 2004 to 2008, he was aMember of Parliament to theRajya Sabha from Nagaland.[4] Returning to State politics in 2008, he was Minister for Planning, Geology and Mining, Animal Husbandry and Parliamentary Affairs under the Ministry ofNeiphiu Rio. He contested State elections 9 times out of which he lost the first two elections and won the remaining 7. He won the assembly elections of 2008, 2013 and 2018 from Peren.[8][9]
T. R. Zeliang was theChief Minister ofNagaland from May 2014 to February 2017[4] and from July 2017 to March 2018 as 19th Chief Minister of Nagaland.[4] With 26 legislators in a House of 60, T.R. Zeliang was the legislature leader of theNaga Peoples' Front, the single largest Party inNagaland. In 2022 T.R. Zeliang became the Chairman ofUnited Democratic Alliance (Nagaland) in the opposition lessGovernment of Nagaland.[10]
In 2023, he was sworn in as the deputy chief minister along with BJP'sYanthungo Patton.[11][12]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Nagaland 24 May 2014 – 20 February 2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Nagaland 19 July 2017 – 8 March 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland 8 March 2023 - Incumbent | ||