Neiphiu Rio (born 1950) is an Indian politician who is currently the Chief Minister of the state of Nagaland. He was Chief Minister from March 6, 2003 to January 3, 2008, and has been Chief Minister again since March 12, 2008.
Rio is the son of Guolhoulie Rio of Tuophema village in Kohima District. He received his early education from Baptist English School, Kohima and Sainik School Purulia.
Rio is a member of the Nagaland People's Front which joined 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. As a member of the Indian National Congress, Rio was Nagaland's Home Minister as part of the cabinet headed by S. C. Jamir. Rio subsequently took office as Chief Minister on March 6, 2003. Rio, a music mania himself, played a key role in setting up the Music Task Force, the first music industry in the country, which has significantly played a key role in moulding talented artists and musicians in Nagaland. He was awarded The Mother Teresa Millenium award, for his outstanding leadership in kolkata in the year 2007.
Rio was dismissed as Chief Minister when President's Rule was imposed on Nagaland on January 3, 2008. 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 March 12, 2008.
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