New Delhi, Nov. 25: Speculation is rife that Nagaland will get a new chief minister within 10 days.

Former chief secretary and former public health engineering minister Z. Obed, the frontrunner for the chief ministerial post, claimed: “It might happen even before that.”

Neiphiu Rio’s government is teetering on the brink of collapse after spending less than four years in power. Obed’s name is being floated as a replacement.

The replacement gameplan rests on engineering a split in the ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF).

This will be followed by the rival group staking claim to form the government, with support from the Congress.

In a telephonic conversation with The Telegraph last evening, which Obed mistakenly assumed was with a Congress leader in New Delhi, the aspirant to the Nagaland chief minister’s chair spilt the beans.

Obed indicated that the Congress will call the shots and the plan has the blessings of the party’s central leadership.

Obed alleged that Rio was indulging in horsetrading to save his chair.

Seventeen of the 31 NPF legislators are on Obed’s side, sources said, while attempts are being made to rope in more.

The ruling coalition comprises six legislators from the BJP, two from the Janata Dal (United) and four Independents in a 60-member House.

Obed had earlier been dropped from the Rio cabinet. The NPF had initiated disciplinary action against him for anti-party activities.