NPP top guns visit Nagaland

No comment on SLP over merger of MLAs with NDPP

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 18

The late Purno A Sangma’s National People’s Party entered Nagaland with a bang bagging two seats in its maiden foray into Nagaland in the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly elections in 2018. 

It was no mean feat as it went on to be a crucial member of a wobbly NDPP-BJP coalition— People’s Democratic Alliance government put together by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. 

The achievement was short-lived however as the two NPP MLAs were gobbled up by the larger NDPP. The two MLAs— L Khumo Khiamniungan from 57 Thonoknyu AC and Imnatiba from 22 Arkakong AC went on to renounce the NPP to “merge” with the former in March this year. 

The NPP cried foul and went to court terming the “merger” and subsequent “assent” of the NLA Speaker to the two MLA joining the NDPP as unconstitutional. A Special Leave Petition was filed at the Supreme Court the hearing of which is ongoing. 

Meanwhile, three senior Nagaland NPP leaders were stripped of the PDA membership, one of whom was holding the chair of a Public Sector Undertaking of the state government. 

Despite the setback, NPP National General Secretary (Finance) and Meghalaya Home Minister James Sangma, said that the NPP as the only national-level party from the region will continue to play in Nagaland. 

Sangma was here in Nagaland on October 18 accompanied by party colleagues— National General Secretary (Political Affairs) and MLA from Arunchal Pradesh Mutchu Mithi and National General Secretary (Org) Dr Lalrintluanga Jahau among others.  

“The reason why we are here is because the NPP central executive committee has not visited Nagaland for quite some time,” Sangma told a press conference today in Dimapur. He said that the team will take stock of the party’s organizational setup and “political atmosphere” in Nagaland while charting “the way forward for the NPP in Nagaland.” 

“We will be accordingly observing, preparing a report and submitting that report to the Central Executive Committee of the party.” 

Commenting on the litigious “merging” of its two MLAs in Nagaland with the ruling NDPP, he said that it has not deterred them. “Politics is always in a fluid state. Things keep changing, never static. It has its ups and downs but that has not deterred or discouraged us as a party.” 

He added that the party’s objective to serve the people of the region and tribal people of the country is what drives the party. 

He declined to comment on the Special Leave Petition filed by the party, with regard to the shifting of loyalty of its two former MLAs, citing it is sub judice. 

Asked where the NPP stands ideologically or whether its political proclivity leans either towards the BJP or the Congress, he said the NPP is an independent party with its own ideology. “We have our own strong individual identity. So, it will be very wrong on my part to say we are here or there. We are our own party.” 

He held that the NE has still to have a strong voice in Parliament and “that is what the NPP is providing to the people of the northeast.”

MLA from Arunchal Pradesh Mutchu Mithi and the party’s National General Secretary (Political Affairs) said that Nagaland forms a formidable player in the NPP’s vision for the NE. 

“The people of Nagaland really assert their identity. You take pride in your indigenous culture. That is what NPP stands for. And we want Nagaland to be a formidable player in raising our voice for the NE states,” said Mithi.