From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Former Lok Sobha Speaker PA Sangma, who broke away with the NCP last year to contest the Presidential elections, on Saturday joined hands with the BJP-led NDA.
Launching the NPP at the “national level”, Sangma said it has been active for long as a recognised party from Manipur.
“Book will be the national symbol of the party because we believe that only literacy and education can empower the weaker sections,” said Sangma.
“Though the party is meant for all and its membership is open for everyone, it is going to be tribal centric,” said Sangma.
He announced that former Union Minister Arvind Netam will be the Working President of the party.
Meanwhile, BJP has hailed Sangma’s decision to make his NPP a part of the NDA alliance.
“Sangma had met NDA working president L K Advani yesterday and expressed his desire to join the alliance. Today his party took this decision and conveyed the formal decision to join the NDA,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Sangma called Advani on the phone on Saturday to inform him about the NPP’s decision.
“NPP becoming a part of the NDA will strengthen the coalition, particularly in the Northeast. BJP hails this decision. On behalf of my party, I wholeheartedly welcome his decision,” Prasad said. (With inputs from PTI)