AIZAWL, Sept 29: The Mizoram unit of
the National People’s Party (NPP) was officially
launched by its national president and
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma
here today, ahead of the State Assembly
polls due to be held later this year.
Sangma appointed Lianzuala, a former
State BJP leader who recently quit the
saffron party, as the president of the Mizoram
unit of the NPP.
Speaking on the occasion, Sangma said
that the NPP, founded by PA Sangma, is a
North Eastern and tribal-centric party
with objectives to ensure that the voice
of the region is heard by New Delhi.
The party will contest the forthcoming
elections to the 40-member Mizoram
Assembly on its own.
“We will fight the elections without
forging any pre-poll alliance with other
political parties,” the NPP chief declared.
Sangma, however, said that the number
of candidates to be fielded by the NPP
was yet to be decided. “We may not be
able to contest all the 40 seats as there is
not much time left before the elections.
However, we will contest as many seats
as possible,” he added.
Sangma was confident that his party
would be part of the next Government in
Mizoram. “Based on our analysis, there
will be a hung Assembly. We may not win
the majority of seats, but I am sure that
we will be a deciding factor in forming
the next Government,” he predicted.
The NPP is a part of the BJP-led NDA
at the Centre and is a constituent of the
North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
In Meghalaya, the NPP is the major partner
in the ruling MDA alliance, while in
Nagaland and Manipur it is also part of
the ruling alliances.
Sangma said the most asked question
the party has come across is that whether
the BJP and the NPP are allies. He said
the NPP has its own ideology and objectives
despite being a member of the NDA.
“These are mere rumours to confuse
the people that the NPP is being funded
by the BJP. It is a misconception which
the Opposition parties are spreading
against us,” he said.
“The NPP stands for the people of
North East India. The party has gained
popularity across the region within a short
time. It has opened accounts in several
NE States in the last Assembly elections
in the North East,” he said.
The NPP has 20 MLAs in Meghalaya,
four in Manipur, seven in Arunachal and
two in Nagaland. - Assam Tribune
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