PTI
NEW DELHI, MAY 15
AHEAD of its possible government formation, BJP today received the support of the North East Regional Political Front (NERPF), an outfit of ten regional political parties of Northeast.
Announcing support to BJP, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said it was doing so to enable the establishment of a stabe government at the Centre.
“Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio has conveyed this message through a letter to me. I am thankful to him for the NERPF support to the NDA,” BJP President Rajnath Singh said on twitter.
He said, “The North-East Regional Political Front (NERPF) has decided to pledge its support to the NDA in forming a stable government at the Centre.”
Ahead of Lok Sabha, ten regional political parties of Northeast came under one umbrella in October last to form the North East Regional Political Front (NERPF).
These regional parties are more inclined towards BJP/NDA and besides NPF and AGP, other members of NERPF include Hills State Democratic Party, Meghalaya United Democratic Party, Manipur Peoples Party, Manipur State Congress Party, Manipur Democratic Peoples Front, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura, Peoples Party of Arunachal and Mizo National Front.
BJP has already announced that its doors are open for other parties and it would welcome any party supporting the party agenda.
The party is also eyeing the support of some other parties including BJD in Odisha and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
BJP has been focusing a lot on the Northeastern states and has a special cell for the region as it wants to strengthen its presence there.
In its Lok Sabha manifesto, the BJP has promised bringing the eastern parts on par with western parts and promised better connectivity to NE states through world-class highways and railway network.
It has also promised to empower the Ministry of NE region with larger charter and non-lapsable funds, besides ensuring massive infrastructure development, especially along the Line of Control in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
It also promises to take effective steps to address the issue of flood control in Assam, job opportunities through tourism and IT in NE states and infiltration, besides ensuring safety of NE students studying across the country.
At present it only has four MPs in Assam and none in any other state, while Congress has 13 MPs including 7 in Assam. The other seats have been held by regional parties.
There are a total of 25 seats in the seven Northeastern states and Sikkim, with the maximum of 14 from Assam. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura have two seats each while Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim have one Lok Sabha seat each.
