Kohima: The Naga People’s Front (NPF) has said that its move to explore a merger with Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is motivated by the need to build a stronger regional force in Nagaland.
Speaking to reporters after the party’s Central Office Bearers’ (COB)’s meeting on Thursday, Secretary General and MLA Achumbemo Kikon emphasised that the discussions carry no conditions or strings attached.
He said the party’s decision was driven by the anxiety and zeal to strengthen the regional force as the Naga people are in need a very strong regional party. Kikon clarified that the NPF has been mulling the merger for over a year, with a resolution already passed on February 12, 2025.
During the meeting, the party also reaffirmed its September 6 resolution, when it appealed to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to return to the NPF and assume leadership of the party.
The party acknowledged the stand taken by its president Apong Pongener who announced his decision to pave way for a new arrangement within the party organisational setup to strengthen the party both at the grassroots and central levels.
In view of the NDPP’s positive response to consider a merger after its proposed convention on October 18, the NPF also decided to hold its general convention on October 21, 2025, at Kohima, coinciding with the party’s 63rd foundation day.
The party also appealed to every Naga citizen to pray for the successful conduct of the proposed general convention.
On the question of nomenclature and party symbol, he said there is no dispute between the parties. The NPF, being the second-oldest regional party in India and the first in the Northeast, continues to hold deep significance for the Naga people.
While some may view the merger move as a political survival tactic, Kikon maintained that the NPF cannot be seen as weak. “Though less in number, our wings are spread across Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, with elected members in Manipur as well. We are deeply rooted in the grassroots,” he said, adding that the party has consistently been represented in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly since 1964, barring 1998.