The Rising People's Party (RPP) has also merged with the NPF, while NPP Councillors have joined the NPF ahead of 2028 Nagaland Assembly Elections.
"The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly fine." Politics in Nagaland moves in much the same way. By the time banners go up and rallies begin, the real decisions have often already been made at the grassroots.
As we look toward the 2028 Assembly elections, that quiet work of alignment and preparation is already underway.
The last decade tested the strength of regional politics in Nagaland, and in the years after 2017, the space appeared fractured. That story is changing now. The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has returned to the Naga People’s Front (NPF), bringing Dr. Neiphiu Rio back to the party he built and led for decades. The Rising People's Party (RPP) has also merged with the NPF in the larger interest of Naga unity. Councillors from the NPP are joining the NPF as well.
The BJP has been a partner in government in Nagaland, and that partnership has brought both stability and a direct line to New Delhi on development and on the Naga issue. BJP leaders have now spoken of contesting all 60 seats in 2028, and in a democracy every party has the right to grow. But elections in Nagaland are not decided by slogans alone. They are decided by trust earned over years, by work in the villages, and by leaders who understand Naga society and its institutions.
No election in Nagaland can be understood apart from the Naga political settlement. Churches, tribal bodies, civil society organisations, and negotiating groups have all renewed their call for an early and honourable conclusion. The people have waited with patience, but that patience has limits, and prolonged uncertainty weakens faith.
At the same time, peace cannot be made to fit an election calendar. It must be a settlement the people can accept and live with — one that protects Naga identity, rights, and future. The NPF has always held that peace and development must go together. As the party with the longest experience of engaging the Government of India on this issue, and as the party currently leading the government, the NPF carries a special responsibility to ensure that when a settlement comes, it is dignified, inclusive, and lasting.
Dr. Neiphiu Rio stands at the centre of this moment, with two responsibilities that define the present phase. As Chief Minister, he is expected to ensure that development reaches every village in the form of roads, schools, health facilities, and jobs. As NPF president, he must also protect the regional voice and keep Nagaland united in its negotiations with Delhi.
In Nagaland, authority is not limited to the Assembly. Churches, village councils, tribal hohos, and student bodies do not hold office, but they hold influence. In times of uncertainty, they call for unity, dialogue, and restraint. The NPF has valued their counsel, because they represent the heart of Naga society. They are also asking the questions voters will ask in 2028: Will our youth find opportunity at home? Will public money reach the ground? Can we make institutions more transparent? Will the talks finally conclude?
Elections will come, and with them the talk of seats and alliances. That is part of politics. But above that lies a larger goal. Elections are a season. Peace is a legacy.
The people of Nagaland are asking one simple question: will politics now serve peace? The mills are grinding. May they this time grind toward peace, and toward a future our children can inherit with pride.
Mathew Rongmei