Dimapur: Five National People’s Party (NPP) legislators of Nagaland joined the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) at Dimapur on Thursday in the presence of chief minister Neiphiu Rio, NPF secretary general Achumbemo Kikon and other senior leaders of the party.With this, the strength of NPF in the 60-member assembly has risen to 39, while NPP now has no presence in the assembly.The MLAs are A Nyamnyei Konyak from 48 Moka assembly constituency, Nuklutoshi from 22 Arkakong assembly constituency, C Kipili Sangtam from 59 Seyochung-Sitimi assembly constituency, Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso from 9 Kohima Town assembly constituency and Benei M Lamthiu from 57 Thonoknyu assembly constituency.The five legislators later paraded before the Nagaland assembly speaker Saringain Longkumer and submitted all relevant documents about their merger.Rio said their decision to join NPF, a party that truly represents the identity and aspirations of the Naga people, is a welcome step. He expressed confidence that with their joining, the regional force will be further strengthened.According to NPF, the five MLAs merged voluntarily with the regional party, reposing their faith in Rio’s leadership, and subscribing to the ideology and policies of NPF.
