New Delhi: The Neiphiu Rio-led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party’s (NDPP) proposed merger with Naga People’s Front (NPF), the oldest regional party in the North-East, is set to further consolidate Rio’s position in Nagaland, where his party is already in the majority.

A final decision on the merger will be taken on 18 October at the NDPP’s general convention meeting. However, the merger will not have any bearing on the NDPP’s present alliance with BJP.

Currently, in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, NDPP has a majority on its own with 32 MLAs. The BJP, its alliance partner, has another 12 MLAs. After the NDPP merges with the NPF, the two MLAs that the latter has will become part of Rio’s party, taking its total strength to 34. The NPF is not an ally of the NDPP and currently lends

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