Kohima (Nagaland) [India], June 3 (HBTV): Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA S Toiho Yeptho, one of seven NCP legislators who recently merged with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), said on Monday that the move was ‘unconditional’ and aimed solely at strengthening regional political representation.

Speaking to ANI at his residence in Kohima, Yeptho, who is also the Deputy Speaker in charge of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, said the merger was not intended to cause political disturbance nor was it a bargaining tactic for positions in the current government.

‘It was an unconditional merger,’ he emphasised. ‘We leave it entirely to the wisdom of the Chief Minister whether to accommodate us or not.’

The merger with the NDPP, the ruling party in the state, was announced on May 31 and gave Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio an absolute majority in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly. With the merger, the NDPP’s tally increased to 32 seats, up from 25.

Recalling the internal split in the NCP during the 2023 elections, Yeptho noted that there was a time when there was only one NCP, before the division between Sharadchandra Pawar and the current Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar.

The former NCP leader said it was ‘natural for us to support Ajit Pawar,’ as his faction aligned with the BJP, which is also allied with the NDPP in Nagaland. He added that the support of the Nagaland NCP unit had been instrumental during the legal dispute before the Election Commission of India, which eventually awarded the party symbol to Ajit Pawar’s faction.

Nagaland currently has no official opposition in the Assembly. After the NDPP and BJP, the National People's Party (NPP) is the third largest party, with five seats, equal to the number of Independent MLAs.

Yeptho noted that although he held the post of Deputy Speaker, other members of their group were left without significant roles, and the central NCP leadership provided little support. Feeling politically sidelined, the seven NCP MLAs viewed the merger as a way to join the mainstream and better serve their constituencies.

‘We felt politically isolated — neither influential in national politics nor impactful at the state level. We were like a subsidiary party,’ he said, adding that while they continued to respect both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, the time had come to align with a stronger regional entity.

Responding to reports of possible legal action by the central NCP, Yeptho said all constitutional procedures had been followed during the merger. While acknowledging that any citizen has the right to seek legal recourse, he said such action would be ‘a fruitless exercise’ and ‘an unnecessary wastage of money.’

Apart from Yeptho, the other MLAs who merged with the NDPP on May 31 include Namri Nchang (Tening), Picto Shohe (Atoizu), Y Mhonbemo Humtsoe (Wokha Town), Y Mankhao Konyak (Wokha Town), A Pondshi Phom (Longleng), and P Longon (Noklak).

Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer accepted the merger in accordance with the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and the Members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 2019.

(ANI)