Nagaland chief minister and president Naga People’s Front (NPF) Neiphiu Rio termed the recent merger of NPF and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) as a historic step undertaken for the collective interest of the Nagas and the regional party. Addressing the NPP’s Central Executive Council meeting on Thursday, Rio emphasised the party’s responsibility towards safeguarding Naga identity and aspirations while advancing the community’s long-standing struggles. Addressing party members, he urged cooperation from newly constituted committees, assuring that all restructuring suggestions had been noted for consideration.
Emphasising NPF’s regional presence across the Northeast, Rio highlighted the party’s base in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, thanking the five MLAs in Manipur and the organisational strength in Arunachal, while stressing the need for a stronger role in Assam. Rio said veteran leaders must eventually step aside for the next generation but urged members to uphold Naga history, tradition, culture, and identity with confidence and conviction. He further called for discipline and organisational strengthening within the NPF, urging it to become a cadre-based party to empower youth to champion people’s causes. ‘Leaders must engage with grassroots communities and educate the public on the numerous NDA welfare schemes,” he added
