SHILLONG, June 8 - The National People�s Party (NPP), which has been recognised as the first national party from the North East region, will primarily have a regional outlook and champion the cause of the people of the North East.
Holding its first North East Coordination Committee (NECC) meeting here after being recognised as a national party by the Election Commission of India, the NPP said its motto would be �One Voice One North East�.
�Regional aspirations will remain a priority for the party,� NPP president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said. For several years, both the present NPP president and its founder, late PA Sangma, felt there was a political vacuum in the region.
Although there are several State parties in the region, none was fortunate to have a charismatic and popular leader like late PA Sangma, who could sit across the table with leaders of different political parties and break barriers.
The NPP faced obstacles in the initial years even in Meghalaya as it was dismissed as a �Garo party� and remained confined to the Garo Hills region.
However, in the Assembly elections last year, it broke that stereotyping by winning seats across the State and stamping its authority on the State politics.
The NPP was a Manipur-based, almost defunct party before late Sangma took over the party�s name and symbol, and made it his own. He overhauled the party, giving it a new life and direction, after being expelled by the NCP in 2012 for insisting on contesting the Presidential elections.
It was, therefore, relatively easy for the party to reassert its presence in Manipur and the ripple effect was also felt in the neighbouring State of Nagaland. With the party doing well in Meghalaya, it was only logical to move to States like Arunachal Pradesh which does not have any strong State party.
�It is a moment for all of us to remember the ideals of our late leader, Purno Sangma, whose contribution to the party has made this possible. Though he is not amidst us today, but his ideals will live forever,� the NPP president said.
The NECC meeting also deliberated on the tasks ahead. It needs to first find its way in most North Eastern States in the upcoming elections.
�It is a crucial meeting as the party will make an endeavour to formulate a road map to take the vision and mission of the party to different corners of the North East,� former Chief Minister DD Lapang, who heads the NECC, said.
