All seven NCP MLAs from Ajit Pawar’s faction join Nagaland’s ruling party NDPP
In a big blow to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP - Ajit Pawar faction), all of its seven MLAs in Nagaland joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Saturday.With this merger, the CM Neiphiu Rio-led party gained an absolute majority in the 60-member Assembly and the number of MLAs has increased from 25 to 32.After the split in Sharad Pawar’s NCP, the Nagaland unit had extended support to the faction led by Ajit Pawar. In the 2023 assembly elections, the NCP emerged as the third-largest party in the state after the NDPP and its ally BJP, winning 12 seats.According to an order issued by Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all seven MLAs were physically present and submitted formal letters indicating their decision to merge with the NDPP. He stated, “This merger fulfills the constitutional requirements under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution”.The order further stated that under the Nagaland Legislative Members (Disqualification on Grounds of Defection) Rules, 2019, the Speaker approved the merger and directed the assembly secretariat to update party affiliation records accordingly. State Minister KG Kenye said at a press conference, “The 7 NCP MLAs submitted their merger letters to the Speaker, who graciously accepted them. As a result, the number of NDPP members in the 14th Nagaland Assembly has increased from 25 to 32.”
In a big blow to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP - Ajit Pawar faction), all of its seven MLAs in Nagaland joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Saturday.
With this merger, the CM Neiphiu Rio-led party gained an absolute majority in the 60-member Assembly and the number of MLAs has increased from 25 to 32.
After the split in Sharad Pawar’s NCP, the Nagaland unit had extended support to the faction led by Ajit Pawar. In the 2023 assembly elections, the NCP emerged as the third-largest party in the state after the NDPP and its ally BJP, winning 12 seats.
According to an order issued by Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, all seven MLAs were physically present and submitted formal letters indicating their decision to merge with the NDPP. He stated, “This merger fulfills the constitutional requirements under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution”.
The order further stated that under the Nagaland Legislative Members (Disqualification on Grounds of Defection) Rules, 2019, the Speaker approved the merger and directed the assembly secretariat to update party affiliation records accordingly. State Minister KG Kenye said at a press conference, “The 7 NCP MLAs submitted their merger letters to the Speaker, who graciously accepted them. As a result, the number of NDPP members in the 14th Nagaland Assembly has increased from 25 to 32.”
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