Kohima, May 25: Nagaland Chief Minister and President of the Naga People’s Front, Neiphiu Rio, on Monday described the formal recognition of the NDPP-NPF merger by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as a “historic moment” and a “golden period” for the party, while reaffirming the role of regional parties in protecting Naga identity, history, culture and customary laws.
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| Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF President Neiphiu Rio addresses party leaders and workers during the NPF ticket distribution ceremony for the Town Council By-Elections 2026 at the party’s Central Headquarters in Kohima. (AIR) |
Speaking during the distribution of party tickets for the upcoming Town Council By-Elections 2026 at the NPF Central Headquarters in Kohima, Rio said the merger had fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of party workers and supporters. He informed that the ECI formally recognised the merger on May 4, 2026, following completion of all required formalities.
“Today, formally in the register of the ECI and the State Election Commission, we have become one party and certified,” Rio said, adding that the development marked an important phase in his political journey.
Referring to the NPF as Nagaland’s first regional party and one of the oldest surviving regional parties in the country, Rio said the organisation had consistently worked towards safeguarding the rights and identity of the Naga people. He stressed the need for discipline within the party and urged younger workers to understand the party’s history and the sacrifices made by earlier leaders.
The Chief Minister also spoke on governance and municipal reforms, stating that the state government had engaged consultants to prepare a revenue model for municipalities, including digital mechanisms for taxation and revenue collection in urban local bodies. He said the model could later be extended beyond Dimapur and Kohima to other towns in Nagaland.
Highlighting constitutional and historical safeguards for the Nagas, Rio referred to Article 371(A) and the Inner Line Permit system, stressing the importance of emotional and socio-cultural integration among Nagas across different states. “If Nagaism survives, everybody will survive. If Nagaism fails, all of us will fail,” he said.
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Meanwhile, MLA and NPF Secretary General Achumbemo Kikon said the upcoming by-elections would be the first electoral test for the merged party. He informed that the ECI approved the merger after verifying the required two-thirds majority support and that the former NDPP had ceased to exist as a separate political party.
The NPF distributed party tickets to Neitsüu Kuotsu for Chümoukedima Ward No. 11 (Chaara), Along Lotha for Wokha Ward No. 8 (Tsumang B), and Shimavi Kiba for Atoizu Ward No. 9 (Samba Ghoki).
According to the State Election Commission, polling for the Town Council By-Elections will take place on June 16, while nomination filing will continue till May 29. The elections are being held following vacancies in the respective wards under provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023.
