A chronology,
in three parts

Roots

Dimapur, and a long association with the party

Yepthomi is from Dimapur district, the son of the late Khehokhu Yepthomi, founder of Thahekhu Village and Khehokhu Village. Reporting on his career describes a long period of active membership in the BJP, during which he carried a succession of organisational responsibilities as a party worker.

Office held

State President, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha — Nagaland

He led the party’s youth wing in the state for two consecutive terms. In the BJP’s structure the Yuva Morcha is the principal recruiting and training ground for organisational leaders: it staffs campaigns, builds district networks and supplies the cadre that senior state office later has to manage.

Campaign

Election management, Nagaland Assembly election

Yepthomi was active in the party’s election management during the 2018 state assembly election, the contest that first brought the BJP into government in Nagaland as a coalition partner.

Office held

State Vice President, BJP Nagaland

After the youth wing he moved into the senior state team as vice president, the position he held immediately before his elevation to the presidency. In the same period he organised the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan — the national flag campaign — in the state, and campaigned for the party in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Campaign

The Prime Minister’s rally at Dimapur

During the 2023 Nagaland Assembly campaign Yepthomi was again active in election management, and was placed in charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grand rally at Dimapur — the largest single event of the party’s state campaign, and the assignment that most directly preceded his appointment as state president.

Appointment

Named State President by J. P. Nadda

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda appointed Yepthomi president of the party’s Nagaland unit, with immediate effect. The organisational appointment letter was issued by Arun Singh, national general secretary and headquarters in-charge. He succeeded Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, who had served two terms, and became the eleventh president of the state unit.

Takes charge

Assumes office at the state headquarters, Kohima

Yepthomi took charge at a formal function at the BJP headquarters in Kohima, in the presence of his predecessor Temjen Imna Along, Abhay Giri — BJP General Secretary (Organisation) in charge of Nagaland and Manipur — Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, party legislators and karyakartas.

He told the gathering that “BJP Nagaland is a party that understands the aspirations of the Naga people,” that “a party is known by its people,” and set out an intention to build “a party of unity and a party united on all fronts.” He took a pledge not to divide the party but to strengthen it on every platform, at the grassroots and booth levels. Congratulations followed from Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton and his predecessor.

Organisation

Extended State Executive Meeting, IMC Hall, Dimapur

The unit adopted resolutions congratulating the BJP-led NDA on a third consecutive Lok Sabha term and pledging support to the Act East Policy and the North East Economic Corridor; backing the PDA government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton; supporting an early, inclusive and honourable solution to the Naga political issue, with an appeal to the Government of India and the negotiating parties to expedite finalisation; and committing the unit to forming booth-level committees at every polling booth in the state. Subsequent executive meetings were set for Tuensang in November 2024 and Noklak in April 2025.

Membership

State-level Sadasyata Abhiyan workshop, Dimapur

The state workshop preparing the party’s membership drive was held at Dimapur, attended by Yepthomi alongside Lok Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, PHED Minister Jacob Zhimomi and Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton.

Position

Press conference on the Eastern Nagaland demand

At Dimapur, Yepthomi said the concerns of the eastern Nagas were “deep rooted, genuine and legitimate” and that “their long-standing issue deserves a quick resolution.” He said the party stood with the people of the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, expressed confidence that the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah intended an amicable settlement, and argued that only a BJP-led coalition could resolve the matter.

Tour

State Presidential Mandal Tour for the membership drive

Yepthomi led the Sadasyata Abhiyan tour from Tizit, in the state’s far north-east, to Seyochung–Sitimi, over three weeks. The drive ran across roughly 140 locations statewide, more than nine of them in Dimapur, enrolling members for the 2024–2030 cycle; he reported around 2.15 lakh active and primary members in Nagaland.

Inductions

Two entries into the party during the tour

On 12 September, Sethrichem Sangtam — a former RPI candidate and founder of the Better Life Foundation Nagaland — joined the BJP with his supporters at the Longkhim–Chare assembly constituency. On 23 September, Yangseo Sangtam, former Deputy Speaker of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly and an RPI candidate in 2023, merged into the party with his supporters at Kiphire town.

Milestone

One year in office

At the completion of his first year Yepthomi had toured every district of Nagaland, covering thirty assembly constituencies and all twenty constituencies — and twenty mandals — of Eastern Nagaland. Regional reporting described him as the first state BJP president to have toured and connected with the grassroots this extensively in a first year.

Re-elected

Returned unopposed as State President

During the party’s Sangathan Parv 2024–25 organisational cycle, Yepthomi was unanimously re-elected State President of BJP Nagaland, unopposed, at the state BJP head office in Kohima, with the result declared by the national observer.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the national leadership, state legislators and party members, and said: “The BJP stands for honesty, transparency, and service. Together, we will strengthen our bond with the people, deliver on our promises, and secure a prosperous future for Nagaland.”

Public address

Moatsü festival, Aoyimkum village, Dimapur

Speaking as special guest at the Moatsü festival celebration — a festival of the Ao community — Yepthomi argued that young people are leaders today rather than merely tomorrow, encouraged initiative and character-building, and said strong moral foundations are essential to a united and progressive society. He praised the organisers for promoting unity, cultural heritage and youth engagement.

Cadre training

Prashikshan Mahabhiyan, Longchang village, Aboi

Yepthomi addressed the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Mahabhiyan–2026, a two-day district-level training programme covering Mon, Longleng and Aboi, with sessions on party ideology, organisational expansion, booth management, social media outreach and the implementation of central welfare schemes. He said several welfare schemes launched under Prime Minister Modi had benefited the poor, but that a lack of awareness had deprived many eligible beneficiaries. He pointed to the region’s potential in tourism and agriculture, and urged voters to reject electoral inducements.

National leadership

Calls on B. L. Santhosh at the party headquarters, New Delhi

Yepthomi met BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B. L. Santhosh at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The two discussed organisational strengthening, cadre development and the party’s expansion roadmap in Nagaland. Yepthomi described Santhosh as a leader known for “simplicity, humility, warmth and accessibility,” and as “a fatherly figure whose guidance continues to inspire party workers to serve the organisation with greater dedication.”

Position

Response to the Union Budget 2026–27

Yepthomi called the budget “futuristic and people-centric,” describing it as among the most comprehensive and inclusive to date and as reflecting meticulous economic planning and inclusive growth. He said Nagaland would benefit through infrastructure, connectivity, tourism promotion and employment generation, and highlighted the increase in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region allocation from ₹5,915 crore in 2025–26 to ₹6,812.30 crore in 2026–27. “India cannot truly develop unless the Northeast develops,” he said.