By Michael McHugh
Gerry Kelly has said it "takes two to tango" as he challenged the DUP to step on to the negotiating dance floor.
The senior Sinn Fein member topped the poll in North Belfast and said he was aware of the problems facing the talks, but none were intractable.
"As my wife Margaret said to me as we were dancing around the dance floor quite recently, when I was not in a crocodile suit, it does take two to tango."
The DUP's former culture minister Nelson McCausland lost out in a constituency in which one of the six incumbents was bound to succumb due to the reduction in seats.
Mr Kelly said it was a historic day after three nationalists were returned, including his colleague Caral Ni Chuilin and the SDLP's Nichola Mallon.
But in a constituency marked by the violence of Ardoyne, he said progress in community relations had been made and pledged to work for all.
Kneecap announce new song ahead of headline performance at London’s Wide Awake
Gordon Lyons to attend first GAA match as Stormont Communities Minister
Fresh appeal over 1973 murder of 18-year-old whose body was found in quarry
Kneecap say terror charge is ‘carnival of distraction’ and ‘political policing’
Woman assaulted while jogging in West Belfast