It's a good calculative game.
Cornered by S C Jamir's 'Mohan Bhagwat card' and the self-inflicted widescale damage done by NPF secretary general's most unbecoming and arrogant statement; the party leadership has the set the ball rolling for "spins".
Four NPP legislators including state unit legislative wing leader A Nyamnyei Konyak are now set to embrace the Cock family.
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| Nyamnyei Konyak |
Understandably the message from the beleaguered NPF chief and state chief minister Neiphiu Rio is -- "despite some nosedive in public perception lately, there are legislators still willing to join us". It is also seen as a diversionary tactic from the present impasse the NPF leadership has landed even in media and social media due to unwarranted utterances by its own office bearer and two senior Naga underground functionaries.
Nyamnyei himself is a five-time MLA from the Moka Assembly constituency. Three others reportedly willing to accompany him to join the NPF bandwagon are -
Kohima legislator - Tseilhoutuo Rhütso (popular as Dr Ato)
Seyochung–Sitimi - MLA -- C. Kipili Sangtam and
Benei M. Lamthiu - who represents 57 assembly segment - Thonoknyu.
Understandably, Mr Nuklutoshi – representing Arkakong (Assembly Constituency No. 22) is still reluctant to jump the NPP ship as he is apparently not very keen to dump Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma yet.
Rio : Doing an Angami business-like calculation
The NPP MLAs were apparently keen to merge with the NPF a year back. Rio had applied break saying - "I am too close to Sangma family .. Late P A Sangma was a bosom friend and so t would not be proper to break Conrad Sangma's party".
The NPP MLAs waited patiently for a while and around June-July 2026 had approached the BJP central leadership for the merger. The Lotus party was doing its own calculation and in the meantime veteran Jamir's "RSS chief meet" served as a path-breaking episode.
Desperation set in and the resultant was frustration and use of "intemperate language".
Reportedly, the BJP leaders wanted to keep chief minister Rio informed about the possible merger of NPP with the BJP. But having sensed the 'change in public mood' especially after secretary general's remarks against S C Jamir; the Cock party has played up this game.
In 2025, the Rio-led NDPP ( a party of party hoppers) not only merged with the NPF; the chief minister (a former Congressman) was also given the prestigious assignment of anchoring the regional outfit as its new president.
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However, this merger may turn out as a double edged-sword as it could only make NPF-BJP relationship more complex. When the NDPP merged with the NPF (which only had two MLAs); BJP stalwart Amit Shah "did not respond" after the matter was informed to him by Rio himself.
"The NPF was in power for 15 years and part of the opposition less government for nearly 8-9 years now. They should be ashamed to speak on Governance model development and Naga issue," remarked a pro-Hindutva force analyst and a retired army officer.
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In September 2025 - something was revealed by Rio himself. He told a meeting of NDPP leaders that the move for merger with the NPF was being kept 'transparent'. "We have kept Amit Shah informed ... told him during the July 19 (2025) meeting in the presence of T R Zeliang and Y Patton that we are moving ahead with that (merger) move".
"As an ally, the BJP must know ... Tai eku reply dia nae (Shah did not respond)".
Perhaps that hesitation still remains. It is clear; the NDPP-NPF merger and Rio taking over the Cock party has "further weakened the BJP". Moreover, the state unit chiefs of both the Congress and the BJP till recently appeared more 'loyal' to the Chief Minister than to their respective parties.
But the outburst of BJP president endorsing S C Jamir has thrown out 'several interpretation' to talk about.
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