Leaders from several political parties in Northeast India have announced plans to merge into a single pan-regional political entity. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma of the National People's Party and Pradyot Manikya Debbarma of Tipra Motha are leading this initiative, which they describe as an effort to create a unified indigenous voice for the region. The announcement was made in Delhi on Tuesday. Other participants include Mmhonlumo Kikon, a former BJP spokesperson from Nagaland who left the party earlier this year, and Daniel Langthasa, formerly with Congress in Assam. A nine-member committee led by James Sangma has been formed to work out the structure and modalities of the new entity, with a report expected within 45 days. The leaders emphasized that the move is not against any political force but aims to address common regional concerns and strengthen representation.
Regional Concerns Drive Unity Effort
The leaders identified several shared challenges facing the Northeast that motivate this political consolidation. These include protection of areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, illegal immigration across long international borders, alienation of tribal land, and healthcare access for students and professionals from the region working in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Debbarma stressed that the new entity is being formed in favor of the people, not in opposition to any political force. Sangma added that while parties like NPP and Tipra Motha have worked with the central government as NDA allies, their decisions remain centered on regional interests. The NPP currently leads Meghalaya's coalition government and has presence in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.
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