Kohima (Nagaland) [India], June 2 (ANI): Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA, S Toiho Yeptho, one of the seven NCP legislators who recently merged with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), said on Monday that the move was 'unconditional' and aimed solely at strengthening regional political representation.

Speaking to ANI at his residence in Kohima, Yeptho, who is also the Deputy Speaker in charge of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, said the merger was not intended to cause political disturbance, nor was it a bargaining tactic for portfolios in the current government.

'It was an unconditional merger,' he emphasised. 'We leave it entirely to the wisdom of the Chief Minister whether to accommodate us or not.'

The merger with NDPP, the ruling party in the state, was announced on May 31, and gave Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio an absolute majority in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly. With the merger, NDPP could have a tally of 32 seats, up from their previous 25 tally.

Recalling the internal split in the NCP during the 2023 elections, Yeptho noted that there was a time when there was only one NCP, as the party had split between Sharadchandra Pawar and current Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar.

The former NCP leader said that it was 'natural for us to support Ajit Pawar,' as the party led by him aligned with the BJP, which is also allied with the NDPP in the state. He further clarified that the support from the Nagaland NCP unit played a crucial role during the legal battle before the Election Commission of India (ECI), which eventually awarded the party symbol to Ajit Pawar's faction.

Nagaland currently has no opposition in the Assembly, as after NDPP and BJP, the National People's Party (NPP) is the third largest party, having 5 seats, the same as the number of Independent MLAs.

Yephto noted that although he holds the position of Deputy Speaker, others in their group were left without significant roles, and the central NCP leadership provided little support. Feeling politically sidelined, the Seven NCP MLAs saw the merger as a way to become part of the mainstream and better serve their constituencies.

'We felt politically isolated -- neither influential in national politics nor impactful at the state level. 'We were like a subsidiary party,' he said, adding that while they continued to respect Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, the time had come to align with a stronger regional entity,' he said.

In response to reports of potential legal action by the NCP party from the Centre, Yeptho noted that all constitutional procedures had been followed during the merger. While acknowledging the right of any citizen to seek legal recourse, he said such action would be 'a fruitless exercise' and an 'unnecessary wastage of money.'

Apart from Yeptho, Namri Nchang, Tening MLA; Picto Shohe, Atoizu MLA; Y Mhonbemo Humtsoe, Wokha Town MLA; Y Mankhao Konyak, Wokha Town MLA; A Pondshi Phom, Longleng; P Longon, Noklak MLA, merged with the NDPP on May 31.

Nagaland Assembly Speaker, Sharingain Longkumer, accepted the merger in accordance with the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and in consonance with the Members of Nagaland Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 2019. (ANI)