Ukhrul (Manipur) / Kohima, February 15, 2026 — In a significant political statement delivered across state lines, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today issued a clarion call for the creation of a “Pan-Naga” platform to provide a unified voice for the Naga people, regardless of administrative boundaries.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the Lui-Ngai-Ni festival celebrations at the Ukhrul Headquarters Ground in Manipur, Mr. Rio asserted that while geography might define state borders, it cannot diminish the deep ties of kinship, culture, and faith that bind the Naga community together.
Addressing a massive gathering organized by the United Naga Council (UNC) and hosted by the Tangkhul Naga Long, Mr. Rio emphasized that true unity does not require uniformity. Instead, he argued, it is about recognizing a “shared destiny” despite internal differences.
“The occasion of Lui-Ngai-Ni is not merely a festival; it is a reaffirmation of our Naga identity and heritage,” the Chief Minister stated, urging the community to look beyond artificial boundaries and work towards a collective platform.
Mr. Rio used the platform to highlight the shifting political landscape, specifically referring to the historic merger of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) on October 21, 2025. He termed the unification of these major parties under the common ‘Cock’ symbol as a watershed moment in the Naga political journey, symbolizing a move toward greater internal cohesion.
He also extended public congratulations to Mr. Losu Dikho on his recent induction as the Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, describing it as a moment of immense pride for both the party and the Naga people at large.
Reiterating a long-standing political aspiration, the Chief Minister touched upon the sensitive issue of integrating all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella. He recalled that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly has passed six separate resolutions between 1964 and 2018 supporting this demand, underscoring that the desire for physical and political integration remains a core sentiment of the people.
The speech in Ukhrul is seen as a strategic move to consolidate Naga sentiment across the Northeast, reinforcing the idea that the community’s socio-political aspirations transcend state lines.
