New Nagaland party formed

Differences within the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has led to the formation of a new regional party in Nagaland’s Chumukedima on Wednesday evening. Assembly elections in Nagaland are due in 2018.

A few NPF legislators in the 60-member house are expected to join the new party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), formed by NPF rebels believed to be close to former chief minister Neiphiu Rio.

Rio had stepped aside in 2014 to contest and win the lone Lok Sabha seat from Nagaland, but later made unsuccessful attempts to be back at the helm in Nagaland.

“DPP has been formed in response to the feelings of the masses who want an honourable solution to the Naga political problem (read peace talks with extremist group NSCN-IM). Our doors are open to all those who aspire to work for the people,” Chingwang Konyak, the new party’s president and former MP, said.

Konyak had quit the NPF in April.