SHILLONG: The National People’s Party on Saturday held its first Northeast Coordination Committee (NECC) meeting in the city with an aim to strengthen the party base in the region and propagate the vision and ideology of the party.
NPP-NECC is headed by former Meghalaya Chief Minister and political stalwart of Northeast DD Lapang, who is of the view that the meeting will usher in an era of new progress for the party.
“It is a crucial meeting as the party will endeavour to formulate a road map to take the vision and mission of the party to different corners of the Northeast,” said Lapang, while delivering his keynote address during the meeting.
He said that NPP’s recognition as a “National Party” by the Election Commission of India will pave a new way in the regional political arena.
It may be mentioned that NPP is the first party from the Northeast to be accorded the “National Party” tag.
“It is a responsibility for the party to carry forward the onus to represent the regional aspiration of the people at the national level. NPP has remained committed and it will further continue to fulfil its agenda for Northeast,” Lapang said.
Leaders from different States including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram attended the conference, including Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur Joykumar Singh, NPP cabinet ministers and legislative party leader of Arunachal Pradesh Mutchu Mithi.
During the conference, the newly elected MP from Tura, Agatha K. Sangma, CLP leader from Arunachal Mutchu Mithi and newly elected Selsella MLA Ferlin Sangma, who won the by-election, were felicitated by NPP chief Conrad Sangma.
A two minute- silence was also observed to honour Arunachal Pradesh NPP leader Tirong Aboh and others who were killed in a militant attack last month.
Speaking on the occasion, Conrad said, “The recognition of NPP as a national party is a great achievement for the people of Northeast. I take this opportunity to congratulate each members of the party, who has worked tirelessly in different states of the region. It is a moment for all of us to remember the ideals of our late leader Purno Sangma, whose contribution to the party has led this possible. Though he is not amidst us today but his ideals will live forever.”
“It is not because NPP formed the government in Meghalaya, we were accorded the tag, or because we were part of the government in Manipur, or the two MLAs from Nagaland but it is the collective contribution of all the states including those who contested from the party and lost the election along with every MLA who emerged victorious. It is great example which proves that if everyone comes together, the most difficult task can be accomplished,” he said.
“When Northeast came together with one idea and one vision, we have demonstrated that we can also be included in the national political arena and be the voice of the Northeast. It is a responsibility for us now to raise the aspiration and concerns of our people,” he added.