Former Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang on Saturday said that National People’s Party (NPP)’s recognition as “National Party” by the Election Commission of India will pave new way in the regional political arena.
Speaking at the first Northeast Coordination Committee (NECC) meeting of the NPP at Shillong, Lapang said that NPP becomes the first party from the Northeast to be accorded the “National Party” status.
“It is a responsibility for the party to carry forward the onus to represent the regional aspiration of the people at the national level. NPP has remained committed and it will further continue to fulfil its agenda for Northeast,” Lapang added.
The former Meghalaya chief minister said that the NECC meeting will usher in an era of new progress for the party.
“It is a crucial meeting as the party will make an endeavour to formulate roadmap to take the vision and mission of the party to different nook and corners of the Northeast,” said Lapang.
Leaders from different States including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram attended the conference.
Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma, deputy chief minister of Manipur Joykumar Singh and other NPP cabinet minister from Manipur, legislative party leader of Arunachal Pradesh Mutchu Mithi, amongst others spoke at the meeting.
During the conference, the newly elected MP from Tura Agatha K. Sangma, CLP leader from Arunachal Mutchu Mithi and newly elected MLA from Meghalaya, Ferlin C. A. Sangma, who won the Selsella by-election, were felicitated by NPP chief Conrad.
Speaking on the occasion, NPP chief Conrad said, “The recognition of NPP as a national party is a great achievement for the people of Northeast. I take this opportunity to congratulate each members of the party, who has worked tirelessly in different states of the region.
“It is a moment for all of us to remember the ideals of our late leader Purno Sangma, whose contribution to the party has led this possible. Though he is not amidst us today but his ideals will live forever.”
He said the beauty of recognition of the party as “National Party” is a testimony of how brick by brick and drop by drop an ocean is created.
“It is not because NPP formed the government in Meghalaya, we were accorded the tag, or because we were part of the government in Manipur, or the two MLAs from Nagaland but it is the collective contribution of all the States including those who contested from the party and lost the election, every MLA who won has contributed. It is great example if everyone comes together, the most difficult task can be accomplished,” he added.