SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP) will field candidates in all the 60 constituencies in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Addressing a gathering at the launch of the party’s block committee at Pynursla on Saturday, NPP president Conrad K Sangma said, “NPP is going to put up candidates in all the 60 constituencies and we are not tying up with any political party.”
“The year 2018 will be a new beginning for the state. As the president of NPP, it is my goal and objective to see that we have a single-party government and NPP will get more than 30 seats in our state in the coming 2018 elections. That is my target,” he added.
Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur Yumnam Joykumar Singh, who was also present at the function, said, “Please ensure that East Khasi Hills gives five MLAs out of five.”
East Khasi Hills has 10 constituencies and when Singh was corrected, he smiled and said, “Please give us 10 out of 10 in East Khasi Hills.”
Prior to Conrad, his brother James Sangma said, “The Congress will get less than five seats in Garo Hills and NPP will get more than 15 seats.”
NPP, which is an ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, is often equated with the saffron party by rivals. Conrad made it clear that NPP’s ideology is not similar to the national party.
“Other political parties are saying NPP is same as BJP. Fighting elections and working on your ideology is one part and developing our state and our constituency is another part. Yes, we will have political alignment but it does not mean that we will compromise on our ideology,” he said.
“If Mamata Banerjee becomes the prime minister of the country tomorrow, NPP will have to work (with her) so that development comes to our people. Will that mean that I am a Trinamool (Congress member)? Will that mean that I believe in Trinamool (Congress’) ideology? No, it does not,” he added.
Emphasising on the party’s objective to work for the indigenous people in the state, Conrad said it was NPP that wrote to the Prime Minister opposing celebration of Good Governance Day and Digital India Day on Christmas Day and Good Friday, respectively.
“Nobody wrote any letter except NPP. We wrote to the Prime Minister to tell him that we are a Christian state and Good Friday and Christmas are the most important days for us,” he added.
Many leaders to join NPP
Conrad also indicated that many leaders are expected to join the party in different constituencies, including in Jaintia Hills.
“Many capable, experienced and genuine political leaders and many sitting MLAs are going to join NPP,” he said.
