New Delhi: The Neiphiu Rio-led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party’s (NDPP) proposed merger with Naga People’s Front (NPF), the oldest regional party in the North-East, is set to further consolidate Rio’s position in Nagaland, where his party is already in the majority.
A final decision on the merger will be taken on 18 October at the NDPP’s general convention meeting. However, the merger will not have any bearing on the NDPP’s present alliance with BJP.
Currently, in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, NDPP has a majority on its own with 32 MLAs. The BJP, its alliance partner, has another 12 MLAs. After the NDPP merges with the NPF, the two MLAs that the latter has will become part of Rio’s party, taking its total strength to 34. The NPF is not an ally of the NDPP and currently lends issue-based support to the party.
“The NDPP is in no mood to disturb its alliance with the BJP and the latter also does not have any objection to the merger,” a senior NDPP leader, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint from Kohima.
The party has been in alliance with the BJP since 2018. “We will continue with the alliance after the merger also. They are in power at the Centre and we regional parties need an alliance with the party at the Centre because we need funds. And in the state, they (BJP) need us so that they can be in the government. So, both are supplementing each other. The Nagas understand that,” the leader said.
In fact, Rio had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi last month and appraised him about the merger offer from the NPF, a second NDPP leader, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint.
A Nagaland BJP leader, speaking to ThePrint, said the party respected the idea of the merger. “They (NDPP) are a strong NDA ally. We had a pre-poll alliance… the central government has always supported the North-East.”
Even now – without the merger – Rio does not have any opposition, with the remaining MLAs including independents and those from other parties, supporting his government. Nagaland has the only opposition-less assembly in India.
The NDPP-NPF merger proposal has come at a time when there are undercurrents against the BJP in the Christian-dominated north-eastern states, in the aftermath of the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
The N. Biren Singh-led BJP government was in power in Manipur at the time. The impact of the ethnic conflict was felt in the north-eastern states in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While the BJP lost from both seats in Manipur, where its own government was in power, in Nagaland, the Congress won the lone Lok Sabha seat after a gap of 20 years.
Also Read: No questions or debate, only suggestions & praise — how ‘Opposition-less’ Nagaland functions
Why the merger?
Why the merger at a time when there is no threat to Rio or his party? Especially considering that Rio had left the NPF back in 2017, apparently after being sidelined, and joined the NDPP.
“Being a small state, having two regional parties is not advisable. The ideology of the regional party is basically for the Naga issue, their interest and aspirations. A strong, consolidated regional party will help us push the Naga interest… it will give us a free approach to deal with others on the Naga issue,” Merentoshi R. Jamir, former minister and NDPP spokesperson, told ThePrint.
Jamir said that was basically the concept behind the regional party. “It began with the NPF in the 1960s. But the political turmoil between 2013 and 2017 and upheavals and misunderstandings led to the formation of the NDPP. Now, I suppose, the leaders have put aside their differences for the greater interest of the Nagas,” he said.
A senior NPF leader, who did not want to be named, agreed. He told ThePrint the merger would put the regional party on a strong footing. “Especially at a time when talks are on with the Centre to resolve the Naga political issue,” the leader said.
Kuzholuzo Nienu, leader of NPF legislature party, said the merger idea came from the general public and NPF and NDPP leaders.
“We have been sounding this to CM Rio from time to time. In a small state like Nagaland, two regional parties cannot survive. It was felt that we need only one regional party so that we can protect the interests of the people, their culture, identity and religion, especially the Naga political interest,” he explained.
Nienu added that whenever NPF leaders used to meet the CM, they requested him to consider the proposal. “NPF is the oldest regional party in the North-East and the second oldest in the country after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). We told him that his legacy will continue because he started his life from a regional party.”
Rio had agreed but there were some hiccups, Nienu said.
“The then NPF president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu did not fully agree to vacate his chair to accommodate the CM (Rio) as NPF president. So, talks broke down and the idea was abandoned.”
The merger proposal was formally discussed for the first time at the NDPP’s Central Executive Board (CEB) meeting in Kohima on 12 September. The CEB, which comprises the CM and other senior leaders of the party, welcomed NPF’s merger offer.
“A final decision, however, will be taken on 18 October at the NDPP’s General Convention meeting,” Jamir said.
Merger will be homecoming for Rio
Once the NPF-NDPP merger happens, it would be a kind of homecoming for Rio.
He had joined the NPF after resigning from the Congress in 2002 following differences with then CM S.C. Jamir.
Rio-led NPF went on to win the 2003 Nagaland assembly elections, which the party had fought in alliance with the state unit of the BJP and smaller Naga parties. Under Rio, the NPF returned to power again in 2008 and 2013.
He left the NPF in 2017 after being expelled for anti-party activities and joined the NDPP. It is said that Rio was one of the leaders behind the formation of the party. He has since then led the NDPP to power twice in Nagaland: in 2018 and 2023.
Now, if the NDPP returns to the NPF fold, Rio will be back in the party which he had helped expand its footprints to other north-eastern states like Manipur.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: Focus on ‘neglected’ eastern Nagas to ‘beef parties’ — how BJP found its sweet spot in Nagaland
