NPP gaining more ground in NE, says Sangma

Our Reporter

Diampur, Dec. 8 (EMN): The National People’s Party (NPP) has strengthened its foothold in the Northeast region after the People’s Party (PP) of Karbi Anglong merged with the former on December 7, according to Meghalaya Minister for Law, James Sangma.

Addressing a press conference in Dimapur on Tuesday, Sangma said that NPP had a productive meeting with People’s Party led by Rajen Timung at Diphu on December 7, and decided to strengthen NPP in the region.

He informed that an ad hoc co-ordination committee has been formed at the district-level of Karbi Anglong and the general secretary of Nagaland state, Limayanger will be the party’s in-charge for Karbi Anglong.

Sangma also informed that they had a review meeting in Nagaland and was very pleased with the leadership of NPP Nagaland president, Andrew Ahoto.

He said that the party’s ideology was ‘very Northeast-centric’, and it has always been propagating the need for Northeast region to come together in order to voice issues that would bring about real change.

According to Sangma, change has to start from a deep-seated understanding of the region, ‘which political parties from other parts of India lack when it comes to the Northeast’. He added that the NPP ‘stands at the better place than anyone else as the Northeast problems are very unique to our region’.

Sangma said that he was encouraged to see that the party has managed to make inroads in Nagaland as well.  He also informed that the NPP would definitely contest in the forthcoming assembly elections in Assam.

When asked about the border issues plaguing the NE region, Sangma said that any dispute cannot be settled by taking a rigid stand.

‘Any dispute is solvable if both sides sit down and have a positive dialogue and be respectful and understand the sentiments of each other. Through dialogue comes solution,’ he said. Meanwhile, Ahoto said that NPP focuses on the welfare of NE region and if Northeast wants to grow, NPP was the way.