Neiphiu Rio elected as Naga People’s Front president; merger with NDPP formalised

KOHIMA — Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was on Tuesday elected as president of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) for the 2025–2030 tenure.

The election took place during the NPF General Convention-cum-63rd Foundation Day held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima.

MLA Achumbemo Kikon has been retained as secretary general of the NPF. The merger and the election of office-bearers were endorsed by the general convention.

The development follows the recent merger of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) with the NPF. The NDPP, which Rio led since its formation in 2017, had passed a resolution to merge with the NPF during its general convention held in Kohima on October 18. The formal letter of merger was subsequently submitted to the Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and accepted.'

Related: Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio calls for renewed spirit of regionalism under NPF banner

Following the merger, Rio was unanimously elected as the leader of the NPF Legislature Party during the first meeting of NPF legislators.

Rio began his political career as president of the Kohima District UDF Youth Wing in 1974, later serving as president of the UDF Youth Wing, Nagaland (1976–77). He entered electoral politics in 1989 as a Congress (I) candidate from the 11-Northern Angami-II Assembly Constituency and held various ministerial positions.

In the early 2000s, he left the Congress and joined the Nagaland People’s Front (popularly known as the ‘Cock Party’), leading it to form the government in 2003. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) in 2014. In 2017, under his leadership, the NDPP was formed and went on to lead the People’s Democratic Alliance government.

On September 6, 2025, the NPF Central Executive Council (CEC) had extended a formal invitation to Rio to rejoin the party and assume leadership “in the greater interest of the Naga people.” The NDPP reciprocated on September 12, 2025, agreeing to the merger in what both parties described as a move for unity and cooperation.

Addressing the NPF Traditional CEC meeting on Monday, Rio said the merger was “not just a political homecoming but a reaffirmation of collective responsibility towards unity, peace, and prosperity.”

Read: Historic merger: NPF ratifies NDPP resolution, consolidates PDA strength