Guwahati, Feb. 22: Shürhozelie Liezietsu took oath as the 11th chief minister of Nagaland this morning along with his 11 ministers.

The new chief minister, with his selection of ministers, today underscored his intent of taking forward the process of reconciliation within the Naga Peoples' Front (NPF). He retained eight members from his predecessor T.R. Zeliang's ministry and inducted three new faces, two of whom were in the camp that had tried to dislodge Zeliang and had also been suspended from the party.

The retained ministers are Kiyanilie Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, P. Longon, C. Kipili Sangtam, C.L. John, Yitachu, Paiwang Konyak and Vikheho Swu while the new faces are Chotisuh Sazo, Imkong L. Imchen and G. Kaito Aye. Those dropped from the previous ministry are Tokheho Yepthomi, Nuklutoshi, Niekiesalie and Nicky Kire.

"It is a very significant reconciliatory move as both Imchen and Aye were in the camp which had tried to dislodge Zeliang. Everybody is trying to move forward. Moreover, Shürhozelie had stressed on continuity by retaining the other members of the Zeliang ministry, the parliamentary secretaries and advisers. He had, in his acceptance speech, urged legislators to bury their differences and is taking that spirit forward. This is the need of the hour in these trying times," an NPF member said.

Aye and Imchen had also been suspended from the party in 2015 and 2016 respectively for anti-party activities by Shürhozelie as NPF president. He revoked the suspension of Imchen last night.

The new chief minister had told The Telegraph yesterday that his ministry would be by and large the same because he wanted to take everybody along "in these trying times" and ahead of next year's Assembly polls.

Shürhozelie, 81, and his council of ministers were sworn in by governor P.B. Acharya during an hour-long function at a packed Raj Bhavan in Kohima. The new chief minister, a former eight-time MLA and minister, is, however, not a member of the Assembly and will have to get himself elected within six months. With Sazo inducted in the ministry, Imtiwapang is likely to be next Speaker.

Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio, who was in the race to succeed Zeliang, was conspicuous by his absence at the swearing-in and later the farewell meeting held for Zeliang.

Zeliang had to resign following protests over his government's decision to hold urban local body polls with 33 per cent reservation for women. Those opposed to the elections said it infringed upon the special rights enjoyed by Nagaland under Article 371A of the Constitution. The protesters lifted their strike soon after Zeliang resigned on Saturday.

Zeliang, in his farewell speech, reiterated that the polls were a constitutional necessity and praised the leadership of Shürhozelie, saying he was the backbone of the NPF. Describing Shürhozelie as a statesman and undisputed leader, Zeliang thanked him for "coming forward to save" the party and the government at this critical juncture.

Shürhozelie, also an educationist and author, was the founding member of the state's first regional party United Democratic Front and has been the president of NPF since its formation in 2002.