He was chosen as the new Chief minister at the meeting of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) which was attended by 59 legislators, NPF sources here said.
Liezitsu, also the DAN chairman, is expected to meet the Governor this evening apparently to stake his claim.
Zeliang had yesterday stepped down from the chief minister's post. Governor P B Acharya had accepted his resignation and told him to continue till further arrangements were made.
Zeliang had left for Delhi on February 16 after seeking two days' time to step down from the chief minister's post.
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Protests had erupted in Nagaland after the state government announced that in the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) election, 33 per cent of the seats would be reserved for women.
Different organisations in the state had demanded that the state government declare the ULB elections null and void, suspend the police and security personnel involved in January 31 firing on the protesters leading to the death of two youths in Dimapur and that Zeliang step down from the post of the Chief Minister.
Their second demand of suspending the personnel involved in January 31 police firing on the protesters has been partially fulfilled as they were transferred.