Kohima Municipal Council has a new leadership in place, with Naga Peoples' Front (NPF) leader Neibodzelie Solo elected as chairperson and Thenusou Sekhose as deputy chairperson on Monday.
The election, held in Kohima, saw 16 of the 19 councillors participate, all of whom voted unanimously in favour of the new leadership.
Kohima Deputy Commissioner B Henok Buchem said three councillors were absent after seeking leave on health grounds.
The posts had remained vacant since February following the resignation of former chairperson Neikhozo Suokhrie and deputy Khrielievi Chusi, both from the NPF, who stepped down citing health reasons.
After assuming office, Solo expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and said his priority would be to work towards the overall development of the town.
Deputy chairperson Sekhose acknowledged that internal challenges are inherent in democratic institutions but said the council has moved past a difficult phase and will now function with unity and focus.
She also addressed the issue of pending salaries of KMC staff, stating that the problem existed even before the recent urban local body elections.
According to her, the financial strain is largely due to the suspension of tollgate collections, which had been a major source of revenue, along with limited avenues for income generation and lack of assets.
Sekhose said the council is exploring measures to improve revenue streams and indicated that additional financial support may be required to ensure long-term sustainability.
Metekhrielie Mejura expressed hope that all 19 councillors would work collectively, cutting across party lines, in the interest of the public.
In the 2024 municipal elections, held after a gap of two decades, the NPF secured 13 seats in the council, while the National People's Party (NPP) won three seats, with the remaining three going to Independent candidates.