In a new development in Nagaland politics ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and Assembly by-election, the two National People’s Party (NPP) legislators of Nagaland, Imnatiba and L Khumo merged with the ruling NDPP on Wednesday, according to a release by NDPP media and communications committee.
The development comes after the NPP, an alliance partner of ruling PDA, decided to field its candidate O Tinu Longkumer for the by-election to Aonglenden Assembly constituency. The NDPP has fielded Sharingain Longkumer to contest the by-election.
With their joining, the strength of NDPP in the 60-member Nagaland House has gone up to 19.
The release said the merger of the two NPP MLAs with the NDPP will strengthen the PDA government under the leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy chief minister Y Patton.
“It will enhance stability and ensure that the PDA government remains focused on the agenda for all-round development in an inclusive manner,” the NDPP said.
The release said all rank and file of the NDPP led by chief minister Rio and party president Chingwang Konyak welcomed the two MLAs along with their supporters and well-wishers into the party fold.
The NDPP said it looks forward to a fruitful partnership and positive contributions towards the uplift of the society by the two capable leaders.
In another development, NPP’s Nagaland unit vice president T Chalukumba Ao on Wednesday resigned from NPP expressing dismay over fielding of NPP candidate for the by-election to Aonglenden Assembly constituency.
In his resignation letter to party president Conrad K Sangma, Ao said the NPP entered into a post-poll alliance with the PDA in Nagaland in March last year. The two NPP legislators were part and parcel of the PDA government since then and the alliance has been functioning smoothly in the interest and welfare of the people of Nagaland, he said.
Ao said in the spirit of the alliance, the PDA partners – NDPP, BJP, JD(U) and an Independent member – supported Tokheho Yepthomi and Sharingain Longkumer to be the PDA’s consensus candidates for the Lok Sabha election and by-election to Aonglenden Assembly constituency respectively.
According to Ao, the NPP has gone against the spirit of camaraderie in the PDA by fielding its own candidate for the by-election despite requests to support the consensus PDA candidates.