From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma will launch his National People’s Party at the national capital on Friday.
Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) will be formally launched at a function at the Constitution Club in the capital.
“Tomorrow, we will have our first central executive committee meeting and then our party will be launched by Sangma,” Alok Kumar Goel, National Secretary of the new party, said.
When questioned whether Sangma’s daughter and NCP MP Agatha Sangma will join the party, Goel said, “Agatha is with the party. She will fully support and campaign for the party. But as there is anti-defection law in place, we can’t say anything as of now whether she will officially join us or not.”The lone Rajya Sabha member from the state Thomas Sangma is also not joining the party for time being. Leader of the opposition in Meghalaya Conard K Sangma and others are already here for the new party’s meeting. ‘Book’ will be party’s election symbol, a party press release said. Sangma along with Pawar and Tariq Anwar had quit Congress in 1999 and formed NCP questioning the right of Sonia Gandhi to lead the party due to her foreign origin. The nine-time MP and former Lok Sabha Speaker was expelled from NCP in the run up to the Presidential election in July when he refused to quit the race and lost the fight. NCP is a constituent of the Congress-led UPA and Mukherjee was its candidate. Goel, however, didn’t make it clear whether NPP will join hands with NDA in near future. “We will announce everything tomorrow only,” said Goel.