The Neiphiu Rio-led government in Nagaland won the floor test in the assembly today.

The legislators, who met for the first time since the formation of the new government, elected Vikho-O Yhoshu of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party as the new speaker.

In the 60-member Assembly, 33 votes were cast in favour of the confidence motion and 26 against it. Barring the speaker, all 59 legislators signed a register to cast their vote for the motion today.

Of the 33 MLAs that voted in favour of the Rio government, 17 were NDPP members, 12 were of the Bharatiya Janata Party, two of the National People's Party, one was a Janata Dal-United MLA and another was an Independent legislator.

Yhoshu had served as an MLA for three terms in the past.

He represents the southern Angami-I constituency.

Polling to 59 seats was held in Nagaland on February 27.

Rio, who had won unopposed from the Northern Angami-II Assembly constituency on February 12, staked claim to form government with the support of 34 legislators on March 4, a day after the results were announced.

The chief minister, along with 10 other ministers, were administered the oath of office by Governor P B Acharya on March 8.

Acharya had asked the newly-elected chief minister to prove his majority on the floor of the House by March 16.  -- PTI