Imphal: In a significant new political development in India, former Manipur state unit president of the National People’s Party (NPP), Yumnam Joykumar, launched a new party named National People’s Party Tera Lai (NPP-TL) on February 1, 2026.
The new party, under the leadership of Y. Joykumar, split away from the NPP led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. This followed after the NPP Manipur state unit leader was sidelined and former Member of Parliament Lorho S. Pfoze was appointed NPP state unit president, along with several others in key positions within the party, in November 2025.
Y. Joykumar, former Manipur Deputy Chief Minister, launched the new party and hoisted its flag at the office premises of Mayol Energy Pvt. Ltd. at Iroishemba in Imphal West district on February 1, 2026. He alleged that the Conrad K. Sangma-led NPP failed to pay attention to the issues facing Manipur.
Taking charge as president of the new party, Y. Joykumar said that an application for registering NPP-TL as a political party with the Election Commission (EC) was submitted on December 26, 2025. In response, the EC intimated receipt of the application on January 6, 2026, he said, adding that the process to recognise NPP-TL as a political party is underway.
The party office was opened and the flag was hoisted as part of the process to obtain recognition, Joykumar said. The decision to form NPP-TL was taken during a meeting held on December 4, 2025.
Y. Joykumar said that NPP-TL will field more than 25 candidates in the 13th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections in 2027. He said his party will win big in the elections and play a key role in the formation of the new government.
Notably, in the sixty-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, there are six NPP legislators.