Five National People's Party (NPP) MLAs in Nagaland have merged with the Naga People's Front (NPF), marking a fresh political realignment in the state Assembly.
The Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat notified that the Speaker had declared the merger of the five NPP members with the NPF in the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly with effect from October 1, 2026. The notification cited Paragraph 4(2) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and the Members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 2019.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Five NPP MLAs have merged with the NPF.
The Nagaland Assembly formally recognised the merger.
The merger is effective from October 1, 2026.
NPF strength has risen to 39 in the 60-member Assembly.
The five MLAs represent Moka, Arkakong, Seyochung-Sitimi, Kohima Town and Thonoknyu.
The NPP has disputed the move and said it will pursue available legal remedies.
The five MLAs are A. Nyamnyei Konyak of Moka, Nuklutoshi of Arkakong, C. Kipili Sangtam of Seyochung-Sitimi, Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso of Kohima Town and Benei M. Lamthiu of Thonoknyu.
Following the merger, the NPF's strength has risen to 39 in the 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
The five legislators joined the NPF in Dimapur and subsequently appeared before the Assembly Speaker with documents relating to the merger. The NPF said the legislators voluntarily joined the party and expressed confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister and NPF president Neiphiu Rio.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The development changes the composition of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and further alters the state's political alignment. It also has a legal dimension because the Assembly has formally recognised the merger under the Tenth Schedule, while the NPP has challenged the characterisation of the legislators' move and indicated that it may seek legal remedies.
The NPP, however, has disputed the move. NPP national vice-president Vevoyi D. Vadeo said the party did not regard the development as a merger between two political parties and said the NPP would examine the Assembly notification and pursue available legal remedies.
The Assembly's notification and the NPP's subsequent objection therefore represent two separate aspects of the development: the merger has been formally recognised by the Assembly, while the NPP has indicated that it intends to challenge the move through the available legal process.
