By Admin 
Ajit pawar setback: All seven MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Nagaland joined the ruling NDPP on Saturday, which led to an absolute majority in the 60 -member assembly. With this merger, the number of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) MLAs increased from 25 to 32.
Nagaland unit supported Ajit Pawar -led faction after a break in Sharad Pawar’s party NCP. In the 2023 assembly elections, NDPP and its ally BJP emerged as the third largest party in the state, which won 12 seats.
According to the order issued by Assembly Speaker Sharingan Longkumer, the seven MLAs present themselves and handed over formal letters, in which their decision to merge with NDPP was reported. He said that this merger fulfills the constitutional requirement under the tenth schedule of the Constitution.
Assembly speaker approved the merger of MLAs
The order said that as per the member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (disqualification on the basis of defection) Rules, 2019, the Speaker approved the merger and directed the Assembly Secretariat to update the party affiliation records accordingly. Minister in the state government KG Kenay said at a press conference, ‘This evening, 7 NCP MLAs handed over their merger letter to the Speaker, which they have politely accepted. With this, the number of NDPP members in the 14th Nagaland Assembly has increased from 25 to 32.
State government spokesman Kenay said, “This development will strengthen the functioning of our Chief Minister and the government.” Asked what will affect the system of seat-sharing within the ruling alliance with this merger, he said that there is no permanent formula.
How many MLAs of which party in Nagaland?
NCP leaders and legislative legislators in the state could not be contacted to comment. Apart from 32 NDPP and 12 BJP MLAs, NPP’s 5 in the state assembly, LJP (Ram Vilas), Naga People’s Front and RPI (Athawale) have two members each, one and four independent MLAs of JD (U).