Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio; Y. Patton, Deputy CM and BJP Legislature Party leader; Benjamin Yepthomi, BJP Nagaland president; Abu Metha, NDPP secretary general; Rusemtong Longkumer, NDPP senior vice president; Achumbemo Kikon, NPF secretary general and MLA; and Apong Pongener, NPF president, at the PDA meeting in Kohima. (DIPR Photo)
 MEETING RESOLUTION.JPG)
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 15 (MExN): The People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) on Wednesday welcomed the Naga People’s Front (NPF) as a full-fledged partner of the ruling following the NPF’s decision to merge with the Alliance.
The announcement came after a PDA meeting held at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex in Kohima, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio. The meeting was attended by Y Patton, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Legislature Party leader; Benjamin Yepthomi, BJP Nagaland Pesident; Abu Metha, NDPP Secretary General; Rusemtong Longkumer, NDPP Senior Vice President; Achumbemo Kikon, NPF Secretary General and MLA; and Apong Pongener, NPF president.
After deliberations, the House unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming the decision of the NPF to officially join the PDA and resolved to accept the NPF as a full-fledged partner of the Alliance, stated a DIPR report on the proceedings of the meeting.
The PDA also expressed appreciation to the Government of India (GoI), under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its support and commitment to the all-round development of Nagaland.
The House called upon all parties involved in the Indo-Naga peace process to undertake sincere measures to advance the ongoing dialogue to a logical conclusion, stressing that the settlement must be honourable, inclusive, and acceptable to the people.
The Alliance further extended gratitude to the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its guidance and support in endorsing the inclusion of the NPF as a partner of the PDA.
The NPF, once a separate regional party, now joins hands with the NDPP and BJP-led PDA, consolidating the ruling coalition strength to the 60-member State Assembly to 46, comprising 32 NDPP, 12 BJP, and 2 NPF members.
Rio, who revived the NPF after resigning as Home Minister from the SC Jamir-led Congress government in 2002, later parted ways with the party in 2017 to form the NDPP, ending the NPF’s three consecutive terms in power through an alliance with the BJP.
Apart from joining the PDA, the NPF has officially requested CM Rio, its former leader, to return and lead the party after merging with the NDPP.
The merger and ‘homecoming’ are most likely to be formalised next week. The NDPP will hold its convention in Kohima on October 18, while the NPF will meet on October 21, coinciding with its 63rd foundation day.
The NPP with its 5 MLAs, LJP (Ram Vilas) & RPI (Athawale) – 2 each, JD (U) – 1 and Independent – 4 MLAs also support the PDA government.
