Kohima, September 12: The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has announced that it will convene a general convention to take a final decision on the Naga People’s Front’s (NPF) offer for a possible merger.
The announcement came after the NDPP’s central executive board (CEB) meeting held on Friday at the party headquarters in Kohima under the leadership of NDPP president Chingwang Konyak and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The meeting was attended by presidents of central frontal organisations, conveners of central committees, and regional office bearers.
The CEB discussed the recent resolutions of the NPF’s central executive council and the merger proposal formally communicated by the NPF secretary general to the NDPP leadership. Rio, Konyak, and the NDPP secretary general briefed members on the issue, while Minister G Kaito Aye, representing the NDPP legislators, noted that the party’s parliamentary board had already welcomed the NPF’s initiative.
While members supported the move, the NDPP emphasized that the party, being registered and recognized by the Election Commission of India, must strictly adhere to constitutional procedures before taking any decision. The CEB therefore resolved to summon a general convention, where the final call will be made.
The house unanimously endorsed NDPP president Konyak and Chief Minister Rio to take necessary steps towards organizing the convention.
The development follows the NPF’s September 6 central executive council meeting, where its president Apong Pongener expressed willingness to resign if Rio returned to lead the party. The NPF also appealed for unity among regional forces in Nagaland, reaffirming its call for Rio to rejoin.
