By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 23: The National People’s Party (NPP) believes the support it is getting from various political parties in the state will see it through in the Lok Sabha elections.
At the same time, however, the party is not taking things for granted.
“Support is a good thing. Every organisation has its base. Any individual or political party coming and supporting us is a positive thing. Little drops of water make the mighty ocean. Therefore, we are happy and hopeful that the support that is coming in will have a positive impact on the NPP this election,” NPP national president and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Saturday.
To a query, he refused to agree that the NPP is in the driver’s seat in the Tura seat. He said the party will not like to be overconfident.
“Every election is a different and difficult election. We will have to work hard also in Tura. We will not take things for granted,” Sangma said.
He said the party is working hard to secure victory in the Shillong seat which is currently held by the Congress.
“We are thankful to all political parties which are extending their support to us. We are getting support from BJP now. We got support from TMC (Trinamool Congress) in the Nongthymmai (Assembly) constituency and maybe, they will support us also outside the Nongthymmai constituency,” the NPP national president said.
He said despite the support, there is a lot of work to be done. Stating that the poll campaign is underway, he said the party has to reach out to the people and connect with them.
On the BJP’s decision to support the NPP candidates in the state, Sangma said, “There is a strong understanding and very good communication among the NDA partners this election. There is also a consensus that to the maximum extent possible, we all should try and support the NDA candidates in every specific constituency.”
Elaborating it, he said the NDA candidate in Nagaland is the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate and there is a strong move to create consensus on supporting the NDA candidates.
“They could be sponsored by a specific political party as it is NPP in Meghalaya, NDPP in Nagaland, NPF (Naga People’s Front) in the Outer Manipur seat and BJP in Arunachal,” Sangma said.
Disclosing that he will visit Nagaland on Monday, the NPP stalwart said, “I will be meeting the Chief Minister of Nagaland (Neiphiu Rio) along with my party leaders and MLAs to discuss the matter. Similarly, our leader and general secretary James PK Sangma is in Arunachal discussing the same matter and also the Assembly elections there.”
Sangma said he met his Manipur leaders in Shillong and discussed the matter.
“Wherever the NDA is contesting and the NPP has a strong base or has elected representatives, we will support the NDA candidate,” he said.
NPP state chief and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong is hoping the party will get one lakh votes from the BJP supporters in the Shillong seat.
“We are happy with the BJP’s decision to extend support to both NPP candidates. I had no clue about it. We are happy and encouraged,” Tynsong said.
“It will be a boon for the NPP as the BJP votes in the Shillong parliamentary seat touch nearly one lakh. These votes will come to our candidate,” he said confidently.
Asked about the combined activities of the BJP and the NPP in the near future, he said a meeting of the two parties will be convened soon and they will decide accordingly.