• Says it takes time to change a system
• May contest in 30-35 seats
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 6
The National People’s Party (NPP) founded by the late PA Sangma is projecting a confident front in poll-bound Nagaland. A fresh entrant in Nagaland electoral politics as a national party, the NPP appears to be banking on the inroads it made in the 2014 Manipur state polls and a perceived anti-incumbency wave in the party founder’s home state of Meghalaya where the Congress is in power.
On his first visit to the state since the NPP’s December launch in Nagaland, party chief Conrad K. Sangma sounded optimistic of making a foothold in Nagaland like it did in Manipur.
“(In Manipur) We won four seats and all four of our MLAs are Ministers today,” said Sangma addressing a press conference in Dimapur on January 6. He cited the recent joining of 8 Meghalaya MLAs into the party fold as another sign of the party’s rising popularity. “We are seeing a large amount of anti-incumbency wave in Meghalaya and I can confidently tell that the NPP will be forming the next govt in Meghalaya.”
On the NPP’s prospects in Nagaland, he said that it is working hard to organise the party in Nagaland and hinted at capitalising on the series of crises that Nagaland’s ruling dispensation has witnessed.
“There is a big political crisis that is going on in our (Nagaland) state. In this situation, the interests of the people as a whole is being lost,” said Sangma. In such a scenario, he added that there needs to be a political party that puts the people and the state first.
The NPP as a political party, he said, was founded on the idea that “there must be a political platform for the people of the northeast” - a political platform that raises the issues of the region, while bringing the different tribes and communities together.
Focus areas: Infrastructure development and youth employment
Queried on the party’s development priorities, Sangma cited infrastructure development and creating employment for the youth as its focus areas. He cited Nagaland’s agro-based industry as another sector having huge scope for value addition, while adding that there are areas of tourism that can be tapped.
“We would like to give governance and a delivery mechanism that is monitored and well accounted so that the money that is meant for the people reaches the people.” Asked whether he is aware of the crores required to win elections in Nagaland, he held that buying/selling of votes just as much accounts for the present state of affairs here.
“It has been a vicious cycle that has been going on for many years. There has to be an end to it,” he said. Nevertheless, he added that the people are gradually realising. He added that the NPP supports the Clean Election Campaign and certainly “would want clean politics.”
While having said that he remarked, “But as u know when it comes to practical politics sometimes it’s just not very easy to change the system, it does takes time.” Passing the buck to the election authority, he hoped that the Election Commission of India is firmer in its steps and dissuade the use of money power.
On the NPP’s stance on the Indo-Naga peace talks, he said that it is critical not just for Nagaland but the north-east as a whole. “We are happy that things have been progressing… And there maybe compromises that need to be made from different sections but I think only through talks and dialogue we will be able to achieve (a meeting point).”
It was however uncertain on the number of seats the party would contest from. NPP Nagaland unit president, Ato Yepthomi said that as a new entrant it would be wise to set up “consensus candidates” in maybe 30-35 seats.
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