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{{short description|Political party in India}}
{{short description|Political party in India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}  
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}  
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| abbreviation      = NPF
| abbreviation      = NPF
| party_flag        = Flag of the Naga People's Front.png
| party_flag        = Flag of the Naga People's Front.png
| party_logo        =  
| party_logo        =
| colorcode        = {{party color|Nagaland Peoples Front}}
| colorcode        = {{party color|Naga People's Front}}
| chairman          = Shürhozelie Liezietsu
| leader            = [[Neiphiu Rio]]
| leader            = [[T. R. Zeliang]]
| president        = [[Neiphiu Rio]]
| president        = [[Shürhozelie Liezietsu]]
| secretary        =
| loksabha_leader  = [[Lorho S. Pfoze]]  
| founder          = [[Neiphiu Rio]]
| founder          = [[Neiphiu Rio]]
| foundation        = 2002
|youth              = Imchatoba Imchen
| ideology          = [[Regionalism (politics)|Regionalism]]
|women              = Sano Vamuzo
| eci              = [[List of political parties in India#State|State Party]]<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013}}</ref>  
| foundation        = 21 October 1963
| alliance          = [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] (India) (2003–Present)<br/>[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (Manipur) (2017-Present)<br/>[[United Democratic Alliance (Nagaland)|UDA]] (Nagaland) (2021-Present)
|slogan            = ''Facta non verba''
| headquarters      = [[Kohima]], [[Nagaland]], [[India]]
| ideology          = {{Nowrap|[[Conservatism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ndpp.co.in/|title=Website}}</ref><br>[[Christian right]]
| loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|1|543|hex={{party color|Nagaland Peoples Front}}}}
<br />[[Regionalism (politics)|Regionalism]]<br />[[Naga nationalism]]}}
| position          = [[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]]
| eci              = [[List of political parties in India#State parties|State Party]]<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013}}</ref>  
| alliance          =  
[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (2003-present)<br> [[North-East Democratic Alliance|NEDA]] (2017-present)
| headquarters      = [[Kohima]], [[Nagaland]]
| loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|0|543|hex={{party color|Naga People's Front}}}}
| state_seats_name  = [[Nagaland Legislative Assembly]]
| state_seats_name  = [[Nagaland Legislative Assembly]]
| state_seats      = {{Composition bar|4|60|hex={{party color|Nagaland Peoples Front}}}}
| state_seats      = {{Composition bar|34|60|hex={{party color|Naga People's Front}}}}
| state2_seats_name = [[Manipur Legislative Assembly]]
| state2_seats_name = [[Manipur Legislative Assembly]]
| state2_seats      = {{Composition bar|5|60|hex={{party color|Nagaland Peoples Front}}}}
| state2_seats      = {{Composition bar|5|60|hex={{party color|Naga People's Front}}}}
| website          = [http://www.nagapeoplesfront.org NagaPeoplesFront.org]
| website          = [http://www.nagapeoplesfront.org NagaPeoplesFront.org]
| colours          =  
| colours          =Dark blue and Red
| footnotes        =  
| merger =  
| symbol            =  [[File:Indian Election Symbol Cock.png|150x150px]]
| symbol            =  [[File:Indian Election Symbol Cock.png|150x150px]] <br /> Rooster
|rajyasabha_leader=None|rajyasabha_seats={{Composition bar|0|245|hex={{party color|Nagaland Peoples Front}}}}}}
|rajyasabha_seats={{Composition bar|0|245|hex={{party color|Naga People's Front}}}}}}


The '''Naga People's Front''' ('''NPF''') is a [[regional political party]] in [[Nagaland]], [[Manipur]] and [[Arunachal|Arunachal Pradesh]] . It headed the Nagaland government with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], as part of the [[Democratic Alliance of Nagaland]] from 2003 to 2018. [[Naga People's Front|NPF]] is coalition partner of [[N. Biren Singh ministry]] led [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] government in [[Manipur]].  
The '''Naga People's Front''' ('''NPF''') is a [[regional political party]] in the Indian states of [[Nagaland]], [[Manipur]] and [[Arunachal|Arunachal Pradesh]]. It is currently the ruling party in the Indian state of [[Nagaland]]. It heads the Nagaland government with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], as part of the [[People's Democratic Alliance (Nagaland)|People's Democratic Alliance]]. NPF is a coalition partner of the [[Second N. Biren Singh ministry|N. Biren Singh ministry]]-led [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] government in [[Manipur]]. The party ideology includes protecting [[Christian right]], thus encouraging it. It demands and supports greater autonomy for Naga areas and Naga cultural nationalism.  


Dr. [[Shürhozelie Liezietsu]] is the President of the party.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 February 2008|title=NPF declares list of 53 names|url=http://morungexpress.com/index.php?news=784|work=The Morung Express|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204143157/http://www.morungexpress.com/index.php?news=784|archive-date=4 February 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> [[Awangbow Newmai]] is State unit President of [[Naga People's Front]] in Manipur. In [[Manipur|Manipur Legislative Assembly]]  [[Losii Dikho]] is the Legislature Party Leader of [[Naga People's Front]] .Until 16 January 2018 [[Neiphiu Rio]], the Lok Sabha member from the [[Nagaland (Lok Sabha constituency)|lone constituency of Nagaland]] was the main leader of the party<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Nagaland|title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Nagaland|work=[[Lok Sabha]]|access-date=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819232303/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Nagaland|archive-date=19 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> but now [[T. R. Zeliang]] is the Main Leader of [[Naga People's Front]] .On 22 March 2004 the NPF absorbed the [[Nagaland Democratic Party]].
[[Neiphiu Rio]] is the current president of the party. [[Awangbow Newmai]] is president of the party in Manipur, while [[Losii Dikho]] is the Legislature Party Leader of NPF in the [[Manipur Legislative Assembly]]. [[Neiphiu Rio]], the Lok Sabha member from the [[Nagaland (Lok Sabha constituency)|lone constituency of Nagaland]], is the leader of the party since 18 October 2025. He earlier served until 16 January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Nagaland|title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Nagaland|work=[[Lok Sabha]]|access-date=2 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819232303/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Nagaland|archive-date=19 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  
 
On 22 March 2004, the NPF merged with the Nagaland  Democratic Party. On 19 October 2025, [[Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party]] merged with NPF.


== History ==
== History ==
Prior to October 2002, the party was known as [[Nagaland People's Council]] (NPC).<ref name="NPF Reference1">{{cite journal |journal=International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention |last1=Dr Tapan |first1=Das |title=Regionalism and Political Party in North-East India: A Case Study of Naga People’s Front |date=21 August 2019 |volume=8 |issue=09 |pages=6 |url=http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/vol8(9)/Series-1/A0809010106.pdf |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> The name of the party was changed from Nagaland People's Council (NPC) to Naga People's Front (NPF) in the Ninth General Convention held at Kohima in October 2002. This historic decision found wide acceptance among the people of the state, as a popular wish of the state was to modify the leadership of the state and make it more inclusive.


In Nagaland, both the ruling Naga People's Front and the opposition party, the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]], supported [[Pranab Mukherjee]] during the 2012 presidential election. Mukherjee held a meeting with Neiphiu Rio and DAN legislators in [[Dimapur]] where NPF leaders formally endorsed their support.
=== Name Changes ===
Over its history, the party has undergone several nomenclature changes while maintaining its original motto and symbol:
 
* 1963: Democratic Party of Nagaland (DPN)
* 1969: United Front of Nagaland (UFN).
* 1972: United Democratic Front (UDF).
* 1980: Naga Nationalist Democratic Party (NNDP).
* 1998: Naga People's Council (NPC).
* 2002: Rebranded to Naga People's Front (NPF) during its Ninth General Convention to be more inclusive.                                      


Mukherjee won the election on 19 July 2012. When the ''Nagaland Post'' asked the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, if the support extended to the presidential candidate was also "issue based" as the NPF-led DAN was supporting the UPA government at the centre on the same line, the Chief Minister said that his party was supporting the UPA and hence it was the right perspective that the DAN legislators also support UPA’s presidential nominee. NPF's main opposition in the legislative assembly is the [[Indian National Congress]] party.
Prior to October 2002, the party was known as '''Nagaland People's Council''' (NPC).<ref name="NPF Reference1">{{cite journal |journal=International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention |last1=Dr Tapan |first1=Das |title=Regionalism and Political Party in North-East India: A Case Study of Naga People's Front |date=21 August 2019 |volume=8 |issue=9 |pages=6 |url=http://www.ijhssi.org/papers/vol8(9)/Series-1/A0809010106.pdf |access-date=28 February 2021}}</ref> The name of the party was changed to Naga People's Front (NPF) in the Ninth General Convention held at Kohima in October 2002. This historic decision found wide acceptance among the people of the state, as a popular wish of the state was to modify the leadership of the state and make it more inclusive.  


Although the Naga People's Front has local arrangements with the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] it previously had not support either the NDA or the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] in the [[Government of India|central government]]<ref>[http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEH20080711093241&Page=H&Title=Top+Stories&Topic=472& Northeast MPs divided over n-deal – Newindpress.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> where it has 1 MP in the [[Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/partywiselist.aspx|title=Sixteenth Lok Sabha Party-wise All Members|work=[[Lok Sabha]]|access-date=2 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018225726/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/Members/partywiselist.aspx|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>
For the 2014 General Election, the North-East Regional Political Front (NERPF), a consortium of 10 regional parties, including the Naga People's Front announced their support for the NDA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/northeast-front-backs-nda/article6014410.ece | title=Northeast front backs NDA | date=16 May 2014 | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=25 August 2018 }}</ref>


For the 2014 General Election, the North-East Regional Political Front (NERPF), a consortium of 10 regional parties, including the Naga People's Front announced their support for the NDA.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/northeast-front-backs-nda/article6014410.ece | title=Northeast front backs NDA | date=16 May 2014 | newspaper=The Hindu | access-date=25 August 2018 }}</ref>
Currently, the NPF is a part of [[North-East Regional Political Front]] consisting of political parties of the northeast which has supported the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)]].


Currently the NPF is a part of [[North-East Regional Political Front]] consisting of political parties of the northeast which has supported the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)]].<!-- Didn't it leave the NDA in 2018? -->
In May 2016, after the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] formed its first government in [[Assam]], a new alliance called the [[North-East Democratic Alliance]] (NEDA) was formed with [[Himanta Biswa Sarma]] as its convener. The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Nagaland]] too belong to this alliance. Thus, the Naga People's Front joined the BJP-led NEDA. On 18 May 2019 NPF pulled out of NDA Government in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|title=Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMs, forms alliance|date=25 May 2016|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> After [[2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election]], NPF rejoined NDA Government in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 March 2022 |title=Except NPF no other parties to be included in Govt, says Manipur CM |url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/except-npf-no-other-parties-to-be-included-in-govt-says-manipur-cm/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=[[Nagaland Post]] |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


On 11 May 2015, all of the assembly's Congress MLAs joined the NPF.<ref>{{cite web | title=Nagaland Congress MLAs to explain move to join NPF – India News | website=The Times of India | date=2015-05-11 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/naga-congress-mlas-to-explain-move-to-join-npf/articleshow/47225607.cms | access-date=2021-03-14}}</ref>
On 21 October 2023, Apong Pongener was elected as President of Naga People's Front.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 2023 |title=Apong Pongener replaces Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu as NPF president |url=https://morungexpress.com/apong-pongener-replaces-dr-shurhozelie-liezietsu-as-npf-president |access-date=8 February 2025 |work=[[The Morung Express]] |pages=1}}</ref>


46 MLAs from the 60 member [[Nagaland Legislative Assembly]] are from the NPF. The opposition, Congress, is represented by 18 MLAs and the rest of the assembly consists of 7 independent MLAs.
In June 2024 the NPF reaffirmed its support for the BJP government in [[Manipur]].<ref>{{cite news |last=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=7 June 2024 |title=NPF reaffirms support to BJP |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/imphal/npf-reaffirms-support-to-bjp/articleshow/110780074.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>


In May 2016, after the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] formed its first government in [[Assam]], a new alliance called the [[North-East Democratic Alliance]] (NEDA) was formed with [[Himanta Biswa Sarma]] as its convener. The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Nagaland]] too belong to this alliance. Thus, the Naga People's Front joined the BJP led NEDA.
In October 2025, the NDPP merged with the party and [[Neiphiu Rio]] became the party leader and national president. NPF became the ruling party of [[Nagaland]].
On 18 May 2019, NPF pulled out of NDA Government in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-northeast-cms-forms-alliance/story-YDYLQ6YsImuzZOQ6Zev5MO.html|title=Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMs, forms alliance|date=25 May 2016|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>


==Aims and Objectives==
==Aims and objectives==
The aims and objectives of the [[Nagaland Peoples Front|Naga Peoples Front]] are:
The aims and objectives of the Naga Peoples Front are:


(a) To work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue, keeping alive at the same time the fire of relentless endeavour to stand against any force to further divide the [[Naga people|Nagas]] and thereby move towards a renaissance of Naga brotherhood by making constant appeal to Naga conscience.<br />
# To work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue, keeping alive at the same time the fire of relentless endeavour to stand against any force to further divide the [[Naga people|Nagas]] and thereby move towards a renaissance of Naga brotherhood by making constant appeal to Naga conscience.
(b) To strive to bring about electoral reforms suited to our way of life aimed at a national resurgence in the society towards whom the Party is duty bound and thereby to liberate the Naga society from the deadly clutches of degeneration.<br />
# To strive to bring about electoral reforms suited to our way of life aimed at a national resurgence in the society towards whom the Party is duty bound and thereby to liberate the Naga society from the deadly clutches of degeneration.
(c) To work for unity and integrity of the people by integrating all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof and also to provide protection to all the ethnic groups who are indigenous inhabitants of the State.<br />
# To work for unity and integrity of the people by integrating all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof and also to provide protection to all the ethnic groups who are indigenous inhabitants of the State.
(d) To restore the good name and clean image which the Nagas enjoyed in the past by taking the fight against all forms of corruption at all levels of Government.<br />
# To restore the good name and clean image which the Nagas enjoyed in the past by taking the fight against all forms of corruption at all levels of Government.
(e) To restore to the people the self-discipline and the spirit of self-reliance which the Nagas had in abundance in the past but which have been seriously eroded in the recent past.<br />
# To restore to the people the self-discipline and the spirit of self-reliance which the Nagas had in abundance in the past but which have been seriously eroded in the recent past.  
(f) To work for economic advancement of the people with special emphasis on rural development with a view to removing economic disparity in the society.<br />
# To work for economic advancement of the people with special emphasis on rural development with a view to removing economic disparity in the society.
(g) To strive for a clean and efficient administration.<br />
# To strive for a clean and efficient administration.
(h) To strictly abide by the Rule of Law in the dispensation of Justice.
# To strictly abide by the Rule of Law in the dispensation of Justice.


==List of Chief Ministers==
==List of chief ministers==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! No
! No
! Name
! Name
! colspan=2| Term of office<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iprngl.nic.in/general-info.htm|title=General Information, Nagaland|publisher=Information & Public Relations department, Nagaland government|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508135755/http://iprngl.nic.in/general-info.htm|archive-date=8 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!'''Portrait'''
! colspan="2" | Term of office<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iprngl.nic.in/general-info.htm|title=General Information, Nagaland|publisher=Information & Public Relations department, Nagaland government|access-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508135755/http://iprngl.nic.in/general-info.htm|archive-date=8 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! Days in office
! Days in office
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| 1
| rowspan="2"|1
| [[Neiphiu Rio]]
|  rowspan="2"|[[Neiphiu Rio]]
|  rowspan="2"|[[File:NeiphiuRio.jpg|50x50px]]
| 6 March 2003
| 6 March 2003
| 3 January 2008
| 3 January 2008
| {{age in days|2003|3|6|2008|1|6}} days
| {{ayd|2003|3|6|2008|1|6}}
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| (1)
| [[Neiphiu Rio]]
| 12 March 2008
| 12 March 2008
| 24 May 2014
| 24 May 2014
| {{age in days|2008|3|12|2014|5|24}} days <br /> [Total 4031 days]
| {{ayd|2008|3|12|2014|5|24}} <br />  
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| 2
| 2
| [[T. R. Zeliang]]
| [[T. R. Zeliang]]
|[[File:T.R. Zeliang.png|50x50px]]
| 24 May 2014
| 24 May 2014
| 22 February 2017
| 22 February 2017
| {{age in days|2014|5|24|2017|2|22}} days
| {{ayd|2014|5|24|2017|2|22}}
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| 3
| 3
| [[Shurhozelie Liezietsu]]
| [[Shürhozelie Liezietsu]]
|[[File:Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Shri Shurhozelie Liezietsu, the Chief Minister of Puducherry, Shri V. Narayanasamy and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia.jpg|50x50px]]
| 22 February 2017
| 22 February 2017
| 19 July 2017
| 19 July 2017
| {{age in days|2017|2|22|2017|7|19}} days
| {{ayd|2017|2|22|2017|7|19}}
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| (2)
| (2)
| [[T. R. Zeliang]]
| [[T. R. Zeliang]]
|[[File:T. R. Zeliang.jpg|50x50px]]
| 19 July 2017
| 19 July 2017
| 8 March 2018
| 8 March 2018
| {{age in days|2017|7|19|2018|3|8}} days
| {{ayd|2017|7|19|2018|3|8}}
|- align=center style="height: 60px;"
| (1)
| [[Neiphiu Rio]]
|[[File:NeiphiuRio.jpg|50x50px]]
| 20 October 2025
| ''Incumbent''
| {{ayd|2025|10|20}} 
|}
|}


Line 110: Line 132:
*[[Rokonicha]]
*[[Rokonicha]]
*[[Y. Hewoto Awomi]]
*[[Y. Hewoto Awomi]]
* [[List of political parties in India]]


==References==
==References==
Line 123: Line 146:
[[Category:Recognised state political parties in India]]
[[Category:Recognised state political parties in India]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2002]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Nagaland]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Nagaland]][[Category:Member parties of the National Democratic Alliance]]
[[Category:Political parties in India]]

Latest revision as of 10:27, 27 April 2026



Naga People's Front
AbbreviationNPF
LeaderNeiphiu Rio
PresidentNeiphiu Rio
FounderNeiphiu Rio
Founded21 October 1963
HeadquartersKohima, Nagaland
Youth wingImchatoba Imchen
Women's wingSano Vamuzo
IdeologyConservatism[1]
Christian right
Regionalism
Naga nationalism
Political positionCentre-right
ColoursDark blue and Red
SloganFacta non verba
ECI StatusState Party[2]
AllianceNDA (2003-present)
NEDA (2017-present)
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Nagaland Legislative Assembly
34 / 60
Seats in Manipur Legislative Assembly
5 / 60
Election symbol

Rooster
Party flag
Website
NagaPeoplesFront.org

The Naga People's Front (NPF) is a regional political party in the Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. It is currently the ruling party in the Indian state of Nagaland. It heads the Nagaland government with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as part of the People's Democratic Alliance. NPF is a coalition partner of the N. Biren Singh ministry-led BJP government in Manipur. The party ideology includes protecting Christian right, thus encouraging it. It demands and supports greater autonomy for Naga areas and Naga cultural nationalism.

Neiphiu Rio is the current president of the party. Awangbow Newmai is president of the party in Manipur, while Losii Dikho is the Legislature Party Leader of NPF in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. Neiphiu Rio, the Lok Sabha member from the lone constituency of Nagaland, is the leader of the party since 18 October 2025. He earlier served until 16 January 2018.[3]

On 22 March 2004, the NPF merged with the Nagaland Democratic Party. On 19 October 2025, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party merged with NPF.

History[edit | edit source]

Name Changes[edit | edit source]

Over its history, the party has undergone several nomenclature changes while maintaining its original motto and symbol:

  • 1963: Democratic Party of Nagaland (DPN)
  • 1969: United Front of Nagaland (UFN).
  • 1972: United Democratic Front (UDF).
  • 1980: Naga Nationalist Democratic Party (NNDP).
  • 1998: Naga People's Council (NPC).
  • 2002: Rebranded to Naga People's Front (NPF) during its Ninth General Convention to be more inclusive.

Prior to October 2002, the party was known as Nagaland People's Council (NPC).[4] The name of the party was changed to Naga People's Front (NPF) in the Ninth General Convention held at Kohima in October 2002. This historic decision found wide acceptance among the people of the state, as a popular wish of the state was to modify the leadership of the state and make it more inclusive.

For the 2014 General Election, the North-East Regional Political Front (NERPF), a consortium of 10 regional parties, including the Naga People's Front announced their support for the NDA.[5]

Currently, the NPF is a part of North-East Regional Political Front consisting of political parties of the northeast which has supported the National Democratic Alliance (India).

In May 2016, after the Bharatiya Janata Party led National Democratic Alliance formed its first government in Assam, a new alliance called the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) was formed with Himanta Biswa Sarma as its convener. The Chief Ministers of the north eastern states of Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland too belong to this alliance. Thus, the Naga People's Front joined the BJP-led NEDA. On 18 May 2019 NPF pulled out of NDA Government in Manipur.[6] After 2022 Manipur Legislative Assembly election, NPF rejoined NDA Government in Manipur.[7]

On 21 October 2023, Apong Pongener was elected as President of Naga People's Front.[8]

In June 2024 the NPF reaffirmed its support for the BJP government in Manipur.[9]

In October 2025, the NDPP merged with the party and Neiphiu Rio became the party leader and national president. NPF became the ruling party of Nagaland.

Aims and objectives[edit | edit source]

The aims and objectives of the Naga Peoples Front are:

  1. To work and assist in any possible manner on any approach for a peaceful solution of the Indo-Naga political issue, keeping alive at the same time the fire of relentless endeavour to stand against any force to further divide the Nagas and thereby move towards a renaissance of Naga brotherhood by making constant appeal to Naga conscience.
  2. To strive to bring about electoral reforms suited to our way of life aimed at a national resurgence in the society towards whom the Party is duty bound and thereby to liberate the Naga society from the deadly clutches of degeneration.
  3. To work for unity and integrity of the people by integrating all contiguous Naga inhabited areas under one administrative roof and also to provide protection to all the ethnic groups who are indigenous inhabitants of the State.
  4. To restore the good name and clean image which the Nagas enjoyed in the past by taking the fight against all forms of corruption at all levels of Government.
  5. To restore to the people the self-discipline and the spirit of self-reliance which the Nagas had in abundance in the past but which have been seriously eroded in the recent past.
  6. To work for economic advancement of the people with special emphasis on rural development with a view to removing economic disparity in the society.
  7. To strive for a clean and efficient administration.
  8. To strictly abide by the Rule of Law in the dispensation of Justice.

List of chief ministers[edit | edit source]

No Name Portrait Term of office[10] Days in office
1 Neiphiu Rio 6 March 2003 3 January 2008 4 years, 306 days
12 March 2008 24 May 2014 6 years, 73 days
2 T. R. Zeliang 24 May 2014 22 February 2017 2 years, 274 days
3 Shürhozelie Liezietsu 22 February 2017 19 July 2017 147 days
(2) T. R. Zeliang 19 July 2017 8 March 2018 232 days
(1) Neiphiu Rio 20 October 2025 Incumbent 294 days

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Website".
  2. ↑ "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013" (PDF). India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Sixteenth Lok Sabha Nagaland". Lok Sabha. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Dr Tapan, Das (21 August 2019). "Regionalism and Political Party in North-East India: A Case Study of Naga People's Front" (PDF). International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention. 8 (9): 6. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Northeast front backs NDA". The Hindu. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Amit Shah holds meeting with northeast CMs, forms alliance". Hindustan Times. 25 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Except NPF no other parties to be included in Govt, says Manipur CM". Nagaland Post. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.[permanent dead link]
  8. ↑ "Apong Pongener replaces Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu as NPF president". The Morung Express. 21 October 2023. p. 1. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  9. ↑ Press Trust of India (7 June 2024). "NPF reaffirms support to BJP". The Times of India.
  10. ↑ "General Information, Nagaland". Information & Public Relations department, Nagaland government. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2014.

External links[edit | edit source]

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