Brief
– NPF with 25 MLAs to join ruling People’s Democratic Alliance
– Move in view of resolving the Naga political issue
– Nagaland Assembly set to be opposition less
Full Report
Kohima, July 20: The Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF), which is the single largest party with 25 MLAs in Nagaland, has decided to join the Neiphiu Rio-led People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government supposedly for the Naga political issue in pursuance of the objective of ‘one solution, one agreement’.
This political development comes after Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) asked all the 60 legislators of the Nagaland Assembly to resign to pave way for Naga political solution on July 18, 2021.
After a prolonged meeting, 18 NPF legislators decided to accept the offer without pre-conditions in the interest of Naga political solution.
“We want solution of decade old Naga problem. Both the parties have come together to sort out the Naga issue. We are hopeful that very soon a solution will come out,” said a party source.
Once the NPF formally joins the ruling coalition comprising the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), BJP and an Independent legislator, Nagaland will witness another Opposition-less government.
The NDPP said unity of all the members of the Assembly for a common goal will definitely bring positive results in “our collective efforts” to bring about a final solution to the Naga political issue.
It added that at this crucial juncture of the Naga issue, it is imperative that everyone should encourage and impress upon the Government of India and all negotiating parties to bring about the final solution to a logical conclusion at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the NPCC sees the coming together of the PDA and NPF as a move to delay the Naga solution.
Pradesh Congress president, K Therie questioned when Nagaland Governor RN Ravi, also the Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks, clearly stated in the State Assembly in February this year that talks with the negotiating Naga groups are over, why the State Council of Ministers had not given him a free hand to implement the solution or resigned en masse.
