By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that while the idea of leaders coming together on a common platform for the Northeast is highly desirable and has received largely positive responses, achieving consensus across diverse political actors is a complex and time-consuming process.
Speaking on the progress of the newly launched “One North East” initiative, a platform designed to bring together political and social leaders from all eight Northeastern states to tackle shared challenges, Sangma acknowledged that “such initiatives are not simple”. “Efforts to create a unified platform for the Northeast have been attempted over decades and require careful deliberation and time,” he said.
The chief minister noted that significant progress has been made in the first 45 days of consultations, but emphasised that it would be premature to share further details as no formal announcement has yet been made. “There is a lot of enthusiasm among the leaders involved, but political processes of this nature cannot be tied to fixed timelines. Decisions will be taken at the appropriate stage,” he said.
Sangma explained that discussions are focused on achieving uniformity across differing political ideologies while balancing the interests of individual parties.
“We are attempting something that has never been done before. While challenges remain, including varying party priorities, discussions are moving forward positively,” he added.
Sangma said that this platform aims to amplify the Northeast’s collective voice, address common concerns, and provide a structured framework for economic and social development.
He further stressed that a careful and methodical approach is essential given the region’s political diversity, decades-long attempts at unity, and the complexities of multi-state collaboration.
It may be recalled that TIPRA Motha Party founder Pradyut Bikram Manikya, former BJP national spokesperson and Nagaland minister Mmhonlumo Kikon, and People’s Party of Assam founder Daniel Langthasa are part of this one North East initiative.
