Kohima: In a move set to reshape Nagaland’s political landscape, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has formally merged with his former party, the Naga People’s Front (NPF). The merger follows a resolution passed by the NPF inviting Rio, his government, and former party members to “take over” the 62-year-old party and restore its historic legacy.
At the NDPP’s general convention on 18 October 2025, the party formally resolved to merge with the state’s oldest regional party. Following the convention, Rio was elected leader of the NPF Legislature Party.
“I’m humbled to be elected Leader of the NPF Legislature Party. Along with NPFLP, we met Hon’ble Speaker Shri Sharingain Longkumer & submitted our documents. Grateful to my colleagues & party orgs. for reposing faith in my leadership & to the Almighty for His guidance & blessings,” Rio wrote on X.
For the NDPP, the merger is seen as a “mature and well-calibrated move” aimed at strengthening regional unity and providing a consolidated platform to address Nagaland’s longstanding political challenges, including the Indo-Naga political issue. To them, the merger would help carry forward the ideals of regional governance and amplify the voice of the Naga people.
The party’s general convention reaffirmed its commitment to regional ideals and expressed confidence that the unified party would be better positioned to address long-standing political and social issues.
A historic union
Founded on 21 October 1963 in Kohima, just over a month before Nagaland attained statehood, the party began as a new political party under the banner of ‘Democratic Party of Nagaland’ under the chairmanship of A Kevichusa to contest in the general elections.
As per records, the party was to be regarded as an ad hoc party that was set up to unite the people of Nagaland during the troubled times, and that it will be open to dissolve itself if and when its task is considered accomplished.
By November 29, 1963, the party was formally registered with the Election Commission of India. The party adopted ‘Cock’ as its symbol which was allotted to the party on December 2, 1963, a day after Nagaland was declared the 16th state of the Indian Union.
“The cock symbolises the herald of a new dawn of understanding, unity and peace in the land,” the party’s old records stated. The party also used the Latin catchphrase ‘Fide non armis’ meaning ‘by faith and not arms’ as its motto, making it its guiding principle for solving the Indo-naga political problem.
The DPN fought its first general election in February 1964 as a registered party. From DPN in 1964 to United Front of Nagaland (UFN) in 1969, United Democratic Front (UDF) in 1972, Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1980, Naga People’s Council (NPC) in 1988, Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) in 2002, to the present day Naga People’s Front (NPF) in 2011, the party had numerous change of nomenclature to “suit the demanding situation of the different periods”.
Over six decades, it has played a central role in shaping the political, social, and cultural narrative of Nagaland. However, the party began losing its legislative foothold in the late 2010s as the NDPP rose to prominence.
The NDPP, formed on 17 May 2017, emerged amid political instability following widespread unrest over the Urban Local Bodies elections, which allowed 33% reservation for women. Protests had escalated across the state, leading to casualties, injuries, and significant disruption to government functions.
The political vacuum created during this period enabled the NDPP to establish itself as an alternative regional force. Within nine months of its formation, the party contested state elections and steadily consolidated power, eventually forming the government in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In January 2018, former Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio quit the NPF to join the NDPP, playing a decisive role in the coalition’s victory in the state assembly elections. Since then, the NDPP has led two successive governments and secured an opposition-less government following the 2023 assembly elections.
“The Party was formed as a response to the cry of the people for a change and an alternative in Nagaland, under an environment of political instability, social unrest and governance challenges,” Abu Metha, then NDPP secretary general had said as he addressed the party’s 5th general convention on February 27, 2025, at Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima.
The path to merger
In April 2022, 21 NPF legislators merged with the NDPP, boosting the ruling party’s strength to 42 and further weakening the NPF’s once-dominant presence in the state assembly. In the 2023 state assembly elections, the NDPP-BJP pre-poll alliance retained power, winning a combined 37 of the 60 seats: 25 for the NDPP and 12 for the BJP. Neiphiu Rio was re-elected as chief minister for a record fifth term.
While talks of the merger surfaced only in the recent months, sitting MLA and NPF Secretary General Achumbemo Kikon said the NPF has been contemplating this merger for over a year. The NPF’s move to merge with the NDPP was a strategic decision to strengthen regional politics in Nagaland. Kikon said the discussions carried “no conditions or strings attached” and were driven by a desire to build a strong regional force capable of representing the aspirations of the Naga people.
He added that the decision was reinforced by the leadership’s willingness to reorganise the party both at grassroots and central levels, paving the way for a unified regional force. The party had passed a resolution in February 2025 supporting the merger, prior to the NDPP’s 5th general convention in Kohima.
On 6 September 2025, the NPF formally appealed for Rio to rejoin the party and assume leadership. The NDPP responded positively, and on October 18, the General Convention of the NDPP party endorsed the merger.
Both parties claim that the merger is a strategic consolidation of Nagaland’s regional political forces. Though numerically weaker in recent years, the NPF had been maintaining deep grassroots networks in Nagaland and neighbouring states such as Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
“Though fewer in numbers, the NPF’s wings have consistently been represented in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly since 1964, barring 1998,” Kikon said, highlighting the party’s enduring influence.
Rio’s homecoming
During the NPF’s traditional Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting on Monday at the NPF headquarters in Kohima, Rio said, “This party has a history of being the oldest regional party in the North East, and the second-longest registered political party in India. I feel that any leader, if we can uphold the ideologies, the principles, and the commitment given by ourselves to serve our people honestly, we can grow from strength to strength and also unite our people even in the days to come. We have to do maximum justice to one another and uphold Nagas above individuals or group-ism”.
Rio recounted his political beginnings in 1974 as President of the Kohima District UDF Youth Wing, followed by his tenure as State President of the UDF Youth Wing in 1976–77, which he described as formative years instilling values of public service and teamwork.
In 1989, Rio entered the Nagaland Legislative Assembly as a Congress (I) candidate from Northern Angami–II and served in various ministerial roles. After resigning from the Congress in 2002 as Home Minister, he helped founded the NPF, a party dedicated to preserving Naga identity, history, and customary laws.
Over the years, the NPF’s presence expanded to Manipur (2011) and Arunachal Pradesh. Rio then represented Nagaland in the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 as an NPF member of parliament. Returning to state politics, he led the NDPP to power in 2018 and 2023, forming the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government.
As he rejoined the NPF as the newly elected leader of the party, Rio emphasised the importance of regional parties, saying, “Friends, to be part of a regional party is never an easy path. It demands sacrifice, conviction, and resilience. Yet, it is essential if we are to preserve and promote the unique voice of the Naga people within the Indian Union.”
“Since 2003, we have maintained a strategic alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), recognizing the importance of partnership for governance and development. While regional identity remains our foremost priority, pragmatism requires that we continue to work in alliance with a national party to safeguard the interests of Nagaland and ensure stability and progress for our people,” he added.
The meeting, Rio said, marks not merely a political homecoming, but a reaffirmation of their collective responsibility to work together for the unity, peace, and prosperity of the Naga people.
“The challenges before us are many — inclusive development, youth empowerment, employment generation, and above all, the long-cherished goal of an honourable and lasting Naga political solution. But I firmly believe that with united vision and sincere leadership, no goal is beyond our reach. As we look ahead, let us rise above personal and tribal differences, guided by the ideals that first inspired the NPF — “Peace for Development and Development for Peace. Let us revive the spirit of regionalism with inclusivity, compassion, and purpose. Our strength lies in unity — unity of thought, unity of purpose, and unity of action,” the new NPF leader said.
At the NPF’s general convention on 21 October 2025, coinciding with the party’s 63rd foundation day, the party is set to formally endorse the merger.
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