NPF formally joins PDA government

Paving way for the eventual merger of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF), the NPF president has promulgated the ordinance to the effect that party would officially join the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government under the leadership of chief minister of Nagaland Dr. Neiphiu Rio.
In an office memorandum, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon, MLA, informed that the ordinance comes into effect from the forenoon of October 14, 2025.
CM convenes PDA meeting: State chief minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, has convened a meeting of the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) in the chief minister’s residential complex (CMRC), Kohima on October 15, 2025 at 4 p.m.
According to a DIPR report, the following members have been requested to attend the meeting: Y. Patton, deputy chief minister and leader of BJP legislature party; Benjamin Yepthomi, president BJP, Nagaland; Abu Metha, secretary general of NDPP; Rusemtong Longkumer, senior vice president of NDPP; Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and secretary general of NPF and Apong Pongener, president NPF.
Rio meets Dr Shurozelie: Meanwhile, chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio along with minister for power and parliamentary affairs KG Kenye and others called on former chief minister and former president of NPF Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu on Tuesday, to seek his support and blessings ahead of the merger of two regional parties (NPF and NDPP).
In a social media post, Rio said: “I visited Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu, to pay my respects to my elder and seek his support and blessing for the upcoming political journey ahead. I thank him for his blessings and guidance, and wish him good health and long life.”
The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) was formed on May 17, 2017, by a breakaway faction of the NPF, as the state’s second regional party with Chingwang Konyak, a veteran politician and former MP as founding president.
Rio returned to state politics amid growing frustration among some NPF leaders over the party’s functioning and its strained relations with the BJP, its long-time ally.
Rio, then Lok Sabha MP and three-time chief minister of Nagaland and a prominent political figure, left the NPF amid internal leadership disputes.
Rio’s move to NDPP in January 2018 ahead of the February 2018 general election, marked a significant shift in Nagaland’s political landscape.
Shortly after joining NDPP, Rio contested the 2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections and entered into a pre-poll alliance with the BJP under the banner of People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA). The alliance secured a majority, paving the way for Dr. Neiphiu Rio to return as Chief Minister for the fourth time.
It may be recalled, that Dr. Neiphiu Rio resigned from the Congress as then home minister in 2002 over differences on Naga political issue with then chief minister Dr. S.C. Jamir. Along with leaders of erstwhile Naga People’s Council (NPC), Rio formed the Naga People’s Front on June 21, 2002.
He led the NPF in the 2003 elections and formed a coalition government with BJP to begin his first stint as chief minister on March 6, 2003. As of 2025, Dr. Neiphiu Rio has served five terms as the chief minister of Nagaland- making him the longest-serving chief minister in the state’s history.
Conventions: Meanwhile, both NDPP and NPF will be holding their respective conventions in Kohima to finalise the formal merger. NDDP will hold its convention on October 18 after which NPF will also hold its convention on October 21.