Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Kohima, Oct 21 (IANS) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was on Tuesday elected the new president of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), four days after the merger of the two ruling allies – the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the NPF.
Rio was elected president of the NPF during the general conference of the Naga party held on Tuesday to mark the 63rd foundation day of the organisation, a party leader said.
NPF is one of the oldest registered regional political parties in the North-Eastern region comprising eight states.
The same day, 74-year-old Rio was unanimously elected leader of the NPF legislative party.
The NDPP broke away from the NPF and was formed by Chief Minister Rio after he was suspended from the party in 2017.
The Nagaland Chief Minister on Tuesday expressed his gratitude towards the party and all its members after being elected first as the NPF president and then as the party’s legislature party leader and described his return as a “joyful homecoming”.
“The unification of the two parties (NDPP and NPF) is more than an organizational decision, it is an expression of our shared vision, mutual respect and collective determination to work together for a stronger and more comprehensive political future,” Rio said.
He thanked former NDPP president Chingwang Konyak and outgoing NPF president Apong Pongner for facilitating the “smooth and complete” integration, describing it as “historic and unprecedented.”
Rio also reiterated the party’s commitment to resolving the Naga political issue, promoting inclusive growth and addressing youth aspirations.
“Youth today demand meritocracy, effective governance, transparency in development and proper delivery of their entitlements. Integrity, responsibility and people-first approach must define leadership,” he said.
On 18 October, the NDPP, which dominates the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government, officially pledged to merge with the NPF.
BJP with 12 MLAs and NPF with two MLAs were also constituents of the PDA.
NDPP President Chingwang Konyak, Chief Minister Rio, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, several ministers and MLAs and leaders and workers from across the state were present during the general conference held at Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima on October 18.
NPF is a regional political party which has a solid organizational base in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh apart from Nagaland.
The NPF has five MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly and was a junior ally of the BJP in the state.
Chief Minister Rio and other NPF leaders described the unification proposal as a “historic step” to promote regional unity and strengthen the Naga cause.
–IANS
SC/KHz