JOIN US21 out of 25 MLAs of Naga People's Front join NDPP in Nagaland
Months before Assembly elections in Nagaland, 21 out of 25 MLAs belonging to Naga People's Front (NPF) including former CM T. R. Zeliang joined Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led Nationlist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Friday.
This takes the strength of NDPP to 42 in the Assembly of 60.
The NPF, led by Zeliang, had emerged as the single-largest party with 25 seats in 2018 Assembly elections but NDPP and BJP, which won 21 and 12 seats respectively, formed the coalition government. In September last year, however, NPF joined the government citing the "need for unity" for resolution of the long Naga conflict. This made Nagaland a state without Opposition.
Assembly Speaker, Sharingain Longkumer, while approving the merger of the NPF MLAs with NPP on Friday evening directed the Commissioner and Secretary of the Assembly to publish the revised summary of information as per the Rules and change the party affiliations of the MLAs.
“21 members belonging to the Naga People’s Front led by TR Zeliang have stated in their individual letters as well as in the common Resolution adopted, that they have merged with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. A letter has been received from the president of NDPP accepting the merger. The 21 MLAs also presented themselves before me today” said the Speaker in his official order.
The development comes days after there were reports about a tussle between Chief Minister Rio and deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Y. Patton. BJP camp was reportedly unhappy after Rio took away the roads and bridges department from Patton and gave it to NDPP MLA H. Chuba Chang.
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