Guwahati: The UDP chief Donkuper Roy has hoped that the newly-formed regional political alliance – NEDA– would focus more on solving burning problems and ushering in development in the region rather than defeating Congress in polls.
Addressing the first conclave of NEDA here in presence of the BJP’s national president Amit Shah on Wednesday, the prime mover behind the initiative, Roy said, “There are lots of questions playing in the minds of the people – is NEDA is about only winning elections and defeating Congress or resolving plethora of problems confronting the region?.”
He said, “NEDA is a collective forum of regional parties of the N-E states with BJP as its major constituent. There are lots of problem facing the Northeast – not only insurgency and migration from across the international border but also militancy within the region and inter-state boundary disputes.”
“We feel NEDA will address those problems dogging the region and if all the people present here (in the meeting venue) are sincere, all the problems will be solved. Action in the ground is very important to achieve the goal,” he said.
“NEDA has its major partner in the form of the BJP that is power in the Centre. It naturally raises hopes for us that BJP will work to solve the problems of the Northeastern states and trigger rapid development in the region,” Roy said.
In respect of electoral benefits out of formation of NEDA, the UDP president said, “An alliance has tasted success in Assam in the last Assembly election. Assam model can be replicated in others states of the Northeast.”
