Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said the demand to withdraw the Armed Force (Special) Power Act (AFSPA), would be the key issue of the NPP in the Manipur assembly election slated for early next year.
“We are getting a positive and good response from the people and definitely we will do much better than the previous election in Manipur. Of course, the election is an election but we have to see how it goes,” Sangma, who is also the chief of NPP, said while addressing a meeting in Manipur.
He said that the NPP has finalized over 30 candidates for the Assembly election in Manipur.
“The names have not been declared yet, but will be declared soon. If the situation changes, we are planning to contest 40 to 45 seats in the election in Manipur,” said Sangma.
“The election committee will make a decision (on more candidates). We except more candidates will come and join our party,” he said.
The NPP is a key ally in the 60-member BJP-led coalition government in Manipur and the party has two ministers in the government.
This time, the NPP will contest the Manipur election alone.
Both the ruling and opposition parties in the poll-bound state are in election mode and campaigning in the state has already begun.