The National Peoples Party(NPP) President and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said that his party will contest the assembly polls in the state alone. “The NPP plans to contest as many Assembly seats as possible in Arunachal Pradesh alone while remaining a partner of the NEDA. The NPP is part of the BJP-led coalition North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). Polls in Andhra, Arunachal, Sikkim, Odisha likely to be clubbed with Lok Sabha’19
“Not only in the assembly, but the NPP is also keen to contest all the 24 seats in the Lok Sabha 2019 in different states of the Northeast,” he said while briefing media persons ahead of the NPP’s state executive meeting on Friday in Itanagar.
He said all the parties in NEDA are free to maintain their respective identity while terming NEDA just a platform for economic development. The NPP would maintain its respective identity he added.
That is why despite an alliance with Arunachal Pradesh’s ruling BJP government, the NPP would fight Assembly seats alone, the NPP president said. The BJP is a junior coalition in Conrad R Sangma in Meghalaya.
While the NPP is a part of the BJP-led N Biren Singh government in Manipur and also of the Neiphiu Rio led NDDP government in Nagaland.
Responding to questions from scribes, he said the Meghalaya government has already adopted a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. On Thursday the Meghalaya Cabinet passed a resolution opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has described the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Lok Sabha as “unfortunate”, adding to the ruling BJP’s growing trouble with allies in the northeast over the measure. Lok Sabha clears Citizenship Amendment Bill amid protests
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