Editor,
In the kaleidoscopic landscape of Indian politics, where regional fissures often deepen national divides, a bold experiment is underway in the Northeast. On November 4, 2025, leaders from key regional outfits—led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma of the National People’s Party (NPP), Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma of Tripura’s TIPRA Motha, Daniel Langthasa of Assam’s People’s Party, and former BJP spokesperson Mmhonlümo Kikon—unveiled plans to forge a single pan-Northeast political entity. This merger, set to crystallize within 45 days, marks a seismic shift: a deliberate bid to consolidate fragmented voices into one flag, one symbol, and one unyielding advocate for the region’s 45 million souls. For a corner of India long sidelined by Delhi’s gaze—plagued by insurgencies, floods, and the gnawing fear of cultural erasure—this could be the clarion call for self-assertion. Yet, as with all such unions in the Northeast’s volatile terrain, the road ahead is riddled with thorns.
At its core, this nascent alliance is a rebellion against isolation. The Northeast’s political mosaic, with over a dozen state-specific parties, has long diluted its bargaining power at the national table. Sangma, whose NPP has buoyed the BJP-led NDA in Meghalaya, articulated the frustration succinctly: “We are not here to fight with anybody… but the Northeast today needs [this] entity.” Echoing him, Debbarma invoked secularism as a constitutional bulwark, vowing to champion rights “regardless of religion or ethnicity.” Their manifesto is refreshingly pragmatic: safeguarding tribal land rights under the Sixth Schedule, curbing infiltration from porous borders, preserving languages and cultures, and combating the racial slurs that North-easterners endure in metros like Delhi and Mumbai. Kikon, the wildcard from Nagaland, framed it as “an idea whose time has come,” signalling a pivot from BJP dependency toward independent electoral forays.
This is no pipe dream born of whimsy. The NPP and TIPRA Motha, both NDA allies, bring proven muscle: Sangma’s party governs Meghalaya, while Debbarma’s outfit upended Tripura’s BJP dominance in recent polls. Layer in Langthasa’s Assam base, and you’ve got a cross-state spine that could redefine alliances ahead of 2026 assembly elections in Assam and beyond. Imagine a unified front contesting Lok Sabha seats in 2029, channelling grievances over the Citizenship Amendment Act or the Armed Forces Special Powers Act into a coherent national narrative. For the first time, the Northeast might not just react to Delhi’s policies but shape them—demanding equitable funds for infrastructure, not tokenistic “Act East” photo-ops.
Yet, optimism must temper with realism; this merger teeters on a “fragile foundation.” The region’s diversity—Assam’s Bengali-Hindu heartland versus Tripura’s tribal Kokborok speakers, Nagaland’s Naga nationalism clashing with Meghalaya’s Khasi matriliny—isn’t easily fused. Historical precedents haunt: the 2019’s United Democratic Front in Manipur splintered amid ethnic rows, and even the BJP’s Northeast Democratic Alliance has frayed under Manipur’s Meitei-Kuki violence. Critics like CPI(M)’s Jitendra Chaudhury dismiss it as “old players” recycling power grabs, pointing to the signatories’ BJP dalliances as proof of opportunism. Will the new party’s secular tilt alienate Christian-majority states like Mizoram or Nagaland? And with the 45-day clock ticking toward mid-December, can they iron out a name, manifesto, and leadership without egos derailing the train?
In an era where national parties treat the Northeast as an electoral ATM—courted during polls, forgotten post-victory—a homegrown colossus could force accountability. It honours the legacies of icons like P.A. Sangma (Conrad’s father) and Biju Patnaik, who dreamed of regional solidarity without secessionist shadows. But success hinges on inclusivity: rope in voices from Arunachal’s BJP rebels, Manipur’s valley tribes, Darjeeling and Sikkim’s overlooked hills. Shun the BJP’s orbit only when it serves, not out of spite; leverage it for now to build muscle.
Three weeks post-announcement, whispers of progress are faint, but the intent endures. If this single party emerges not as a fleeting pact but an enduring force, it could herald the Northeast’s renaissance: from periphery to powerhouse. Fail, and it risks reinforcing the cynicism that unity here is but a mirage. The ball is in their court—let them play not for thrones, but for the people who have waited too long for one collective roar.
Yours etc.,
Anil Thapa,
Via email
Excessive noise from construction work near Bethany Hospital
Editor,
I am currently attending to my husband, who is admitted at Bethany Hospital on the first floor of the new building. As an attendant, I was deeply disturbed by the continuous noise caused by construction activity taking place nearby. A JCB has been operating since around 9 a.m., and to my dismay, the work continued unabated even at 10 p.m.
I cannot imagine the distress this must have caused to the patients, many of whom require rest and a quiet environment for recovery. It is disheartening to see that such work is permitted so close to a hospital without any consideration for the well-being of the patients. Have we lost our sense of responsibility? Do the contractors not realise the impact of their actions? It appears that, if allowed, the work would continue 24 hours a day, regardless of the disturbance inflicted upon vulnerable patients.
I am also concerned that the authorities seem indifferent to this severe noise pollution. It is unfortunate that patients—already suffering—have to endure such additional discomfort
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request,
Via email
