NPP part of NDA but will fight LS, assembly elections alone: Conrad

NEW DELHI, May 22: The NPP will continue to be a part of the BJP-led NDA but will go it alone in the next Lok Sabha elections and all other state polls, party’s national president and Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma declared on Monday.
Conrad made it clear that the NPP is in alliance with the BJP-led NDA in the state and in the Centre at present and will continue to do so while keeping its own ideology intact.
He was addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the national committee meeting here at the end of its foundation day as a national party.
When questioned about the dichotomy, the chief minister said that in all the past elections including the last one three months ago in Meghalaya, the NPP fought on its own without allying with any other national or regional parties. But after elections like all other previous occasions, the NPP being the single largest one formed the government with the BJP, UDP and other parties.
There is no contradiction since the present MDA is more or less a replica of the previous one, Sangma said.
Most of the NPP legislators, ministers, and office bearers attended the day-long meeting.
Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, Power Minister AT Mondal, Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, former minister James PK Sangma and Tura MP Agatha Sangma also attended the meeting.