"We are witnessing coming together of people, ideas and experiences," says Naga CM Rio on RPP merger with NPF ::: Not long BJP leader Patton had said -- "Those who don't want solution can go to hell"

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday, July 11, said that the merger of RPP with the NPF symbolises coming together of people, ideas and experiences. 

In his presidential address, the NPF chief stated that - "We are sending out a message that when the larger interests of our people are at stake, we must have the courage and wisdom to rise above individual differences and come together".  

This merger is a surprising development in the state polity as the Rising People's Party (RPP) led by Joel Naga (son of a former Congressman Nillo Rengma) was all along seen as an organisation which was steadfastly against Rio and his approach to politics. But now the merger is seen as a 'development' related to the recent emergence of a youth organisation called Fed Up Nagas. 

This nascent  outfit has now been rechristened as the Naga Youth Movement. Speculation is rife on whether the NYM (the erstwhile Fed Up Nagas) will also take a formal political format before 2028 assembly elections.  

Insecurity is around.

Analysts feel the NPF-BJP government's credibility is on nosedive especially on the political front as the Rio-led dispensation seems to have done very little (or nothing at all) to convince NSCN-IM leadership to come forward for signing of a final peace pact. 

In the process even New Delhi is today bound to scrutinize whether - a chief minister is pro-one group of militants or the particular group is pro-chief minister.  In more ways than one, the central government is also irked and so there is speculation on whether the BJP is exploring ways to go it alone in 2028 assembly elections. 

The ball is essentially in the court of Home Minister Amit Shah, who in 2022 over ruled state BJP leaders' repeated plea, and allowed BJP's alliance with NDPP wherein 40 seats were given to the Rio-led outfit. The same 20:40 alliance was applied even in 2018 polls when BJP's strike rate was far better. 

The Naga politics and matters related to Naga peace talks have come a long way since 2018. Firstly, the then interlocutor and Governor R N Ravi had said that the talks process has been completed. But slowly Ravi was 'targeted' and a sustained campaign by the Status quo club led to his ouster.  

A K Mishra came in as a special emissary. Nevertheless, the delay tactics continued. Critics say by all means the only focused game was to ensure chief ministership for Rio.

In 2024 October, Rio came up with the idea of a 'political interlocutor'. In 2025, his NDPP party merged with the NPF and he took over as the president of the regional outfit. However, in the process, the NPF suffered a lot in terms of the political credibility of the good old and cherished values of Naga political regionalism. 

Now, the NPF is seen more like a club of 'powerful politicians' and also an accommodating house keen to provide room to all ambitious individuals.  

The rehabilitation package provided to RPP leaders speak for itself. All of it happened even before the news of merger is reported. 

One social media joke is -- Even if their children and grandchildren die they will be Central office Bearers !! 

The grand show wherein a chief minister in office for two decades sits to welcome about 8-9 leaders is a record in itself. This kind of compulsion of coalition politics did not happen even with the 'remoted controlled' PM Dr Manmohan Singh. 

How much political gain; the merger finally brings in is anybody's guess work. 

Questions are being asked -- whether Team Rio's next round of discredited move will be to take in parties such as NPP. There is a small catch although ...  because Rio personally may not be too keen to spoil the relationship with NPP chief and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma.  

Questions are also being asked on whether RPP chief consulted all and sundry in his family circle for the merger move. 

A key BJP leader reportedly had a lot of influence on RPP. 

This brings us to question whether the saffron party in Nagaland will also witness some churning -- in terms of changes in both the legislative wing and the main organisation.

The office bearers of BJP Nagaland seemingly have 'more loyalty' towards Rio than their high command. If the same case is happening with the legislative wing; things are at crossroads literally.   

 

2017  : Nagaland bridge collapse.... over Chathe river beyond Referral Hospital 

Former RPP chief Joel will be vice president of NPF and has been given a greater role in Dimapur.

So is he contesting Dimapur I or Dimapur II next time?

A related question is - whether NPF is preparing ground for the 2028 contest presuming on its own that the Lotus party could also contest all 60 seats.

There came a time when Deputy CM and vocal BJP leader Y Patton had rather angrily said --- "Those who don't want solution can go to hell, die or abrogate ceasefire."  

All these episodes are now being reflected upon both in Nagaland and in New Delhi. 

In the national capital yet again things are being scrutinized on two fronts - the Home Ministry and the BJP headquarters.  

What everyone’s looking at is whether -- 

Amit Shah sees an opportunity with NSCN-IM getting so 'distracted' these days.

The NPF insists that’s not the case, and New Delhi certainly won’t do anything as long as it rules Kohima and people like Himanta are its friends. 

But on the whole; it must be tempting for 'rebels' Eastern Flank to explore whether they should go for a bigger slice of the cake.

Who or rather what would 'recapture' Naga imagination yet again ? 

In the last few hours; I spoke to a few youngsters - they all said 

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- "No time to speak; time for Bolero ride uncle". 

ends