Four political leaders from Northeast India recently met in Delhi to announce plans for merging their parties into a single regional entity. The group includes Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya and president of the National People's Party, Pradyot Manikya Debbarma of Tipra Motha, former Nagaland BJP legislator Mmhonlumo Kikon, and Daniel Langthasa, founder of the People's Party in Assam's Dima Hasao district. They aim to create one unified political voice for the Northeast, independent of national parties like the BJP and Congress. The proposal has sparked interest among other regional parties, though doubts remain about its feasibility. Key concerns highlighted include protecting tribal areas, curbing illegal immigration, and preventing discrimination against Northeastern students in other cities. While some parties like Assam's Asom Jatiya Parishad expressed support, others such as Mizoram's Zoram People's Movement and Meghalaya's Voice of the People remain cautious, unwilling to surrender their distinct identities. The initiative reflects long-standing aspirations for regional unity but faces challenges in bridging diverse community interests across the Northeast.
Key Issues and Goals of the Unity Proposal
The leaders emphasized shared concerns affecting the entire Northeast region. Pradyot Manikya Debbarma identified protection for tribal areas, controlling illegal immigration from across international borders, and stopping mistreatment of Northeastern students and professionals in Indian cities as common priorities. Former BJP leader Mmhonlumo Kikon explained that small regional parties lack sufficient voice to make Delhi listen, creating a vacuum for a platform dedicated solely to Northeastern issues. Conrad Sangma stated that younger generation leaders have long discussed similar concerns from different platforms, and now is the time to provide a collective voice. The forum seeks independence from national parties after decades of reliance on the Centre for finances and security concerns related to the region's long international borders.
Challenges and Reactions from Regional Parties
The initiative has drawn mixed responses from Northeastern political outfits. Jagadish Bhuyan of Assam's Asom Jatiya Parishad supports a unified process structured like a federation, arguing regionalism is the only path forward. However, Mizoram's ruling Zoram People's Movement, through spokesperson K Laltluangkima, expressed sympathy but reluctance to surrender its party identity and name. Meghalaya's Voice of the People refused to join any forum led by the NPP, its key rival. Political science professor Batskhem Myrboh noted the move reflects the Sangma family's long aspiration for politics transcending state boundaries, recalling P A Sangma's efforts to expand the NPP nationally in 2013, including winning four Rajasthan Assembly seats while representing tribal interests across India.
Source: Link