July 20, 2021: In a big development that can be seen as a positive move for the long pending Naga peace talks, all the 25 NPF (Naga Peoples’ Front) MLAs have decided to join Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio led PDA (Peoples’ Democratic Alliance). The decision was taken at a meeting last night, sources said. 

The move comes just hours ahead of the crucial meeting of the Parliamentary Core Committee with the 7 NNPGs (National Naga Political Groups) to get them on board and create the environment to resume the Naga peace talks that has been stalled since 2019. The idea is to resume the peace talks without any pre-conditions.

“We are committed to the Naga people and the Naga cause. The decision to join the PDA is part of the Opposition-less initiative in Nagaland to push for a solution for the Naga peace talks,” Achumbemo Kikon, Secretary General of NPF said.

The Parliamentary panel would be meeting the NNPGs today at 3 PM. The panel would be meeting NSCN-IM leaders tomorrow at 10 AM. Both the meetings would take place in Dimapur. NSCN-IM leader TH Muivah is expected to attend the meeting.

The Parliamentary panel consists of all the 60 MLAs and 2 MPs from Nagaland.

The idea behind setting up the Parliamentary core committee was to find a way out to get all stakeholders on board and finding a solution to the Naga issue that has been pending for over 24 years. Despite a reported agreement with the Centre and the state and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland or NSCN (IM), the deadlock is far from over as the issue of a separate flag and constitution continue to be the sticky issues.