The Naga People’s Front (NPF) on Tuesday formally joined the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, ending speculation over a potential realignment between the NPF and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
In an ordinance issued on Tuesday, NPF President Apong Pongener, exercising powers under Clause 10 of Article V of the party’s constitution, declared that the NPF “shall officially join the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government under the leadership of Dr. Neiphiu Rio.” The ordinance, signed by NPF Secretary General and MLA Achumbemo Kikon, came into effect from the forenoon of October 14.
Until now, the NPF’s two MLAs had been extending outside support to the PDA, a coalition formed by the NDPP and the BJP ahead of the 2023 assembly elections. The announcement comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the proposed merger of the NDPP and NPF into a single entity.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by Parliamentary Affairs and Power Minister KG Kenye, paid a courtesy visit to veteran regional leader Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, former NPF president and ex-chief minister. Rio later posted on X, “I visited Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu to pay my respects to my elder and seek his blessings for the political journey ahead. I thank him for his guidance and wish him good health and long life.”
Rio, who revived the NPF after resigning as home minister from the SC Jamir-led Congress government in 2002, went on to become chief minister following the 2003 assembly elections. He parted ways with the NPF in 2017 during Liezietsu’s tenure as party president to form the NDPP, which ended the NPF’s three consecutive terms in power by winning the 2018 state elections in alliance with the BJP.
The visit is significant and can be seen as reconciliation between the two leaders.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office has called a meeting of the PDA on October 15 at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex, Kohima. Attendees will include Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, BJP State President Benjamin Yepthomi, and senior NDPP and NPF functionaries Abu Metha, Rusemtong Longkumer, Achumbemo Kikon, and Apong Pongener.
The NDPP, which holds 32 seats in the 60-member House, has announced plans to hold a general convention to formalise its merger with the NPF, which has two MLAs. Currently, the NDPP commands 32 seats in Nagaland’s assembly, with its ally BJP holding 12 seats, while the NPF has two.
Both parties have scheduled their conventions in Kohima, with the NDPP convention set for October 18 and the NPF convention on October 21, coinciding with the NPF’s 63rd foundation day. The NPF convention is also expected to serve as the official event for the merger, effectively uniting the two parties under one banner.