KOHIMA: In a significant political development ahead of next year's Assembly polls in Nagaland, 21 of the 25 MLAs of the Naga People's Front (NPF) on Friday joined the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Both the NPF and the NDPP are the constituents of the Opposition-less all-party United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Government formed last year.
The all-party UDA Government was formed to take forward the Naga political issue between the Centre and Naga outfits and various other groups,.
The BJP, with 12 MLAs, is also an important constituent of the UDA which has NPF president and former Chief Minister TR Zeliang as its chairman.
With the joining of the 21 NPF legislators, the strength of the NDPP has gone up to 42 in the 60-member Assembly.
Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Lokngkumer, in an order, said that he has received the claim of merger of 21 members of the NPF Legislature Party with the NDPP on Friday.
The Speaker, in his order, said that the 21 MLAs belonging to the NPF led by TR Zeliang, have stated in their individual letters as well as in their resolution that they have merged with the NDPP on Friday.
Friday's development comes after the internal tussle in NPF as the party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu on Thursday announced that the party would contest the Assembly elections erly next year on its own.
Meanwhile, the NPF with five MLAs, is an ally of the BJP-led Government in neighbouring Manipur. The Naga party has two ministers in the N Biren Singh led 12-member council of ministers. (IANS)
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