A hoarding of National People’s Party on the street of Aizawl. Photo: Sangzuala Hmar

National People’s Party will formally make a foray into Mizoram politics on September 29. Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma will launch the party in poll-bound state on that day.

“National Peoples’ Party has decided to contest in the upcoming Mizoram elections, I am here to meet party functionaries, details of leadership will be announced very soon,” James Sangma, Meghalaya home minister said here on Saturday.

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“Conrad Sangma will officially launch the party on September 29, we are hopeful that NPP will open account in the coming Mizoram state assembly election,” James Sangma said.

On whether the axed Congress vice president R Lalzirliana would lead the party, James Sangma said he has been meeting R Lalzirliana quite a number of times and that they discussed politics of the region but on a personal note.

“The party leadership will be announced very soon, at this point of time, nothing is ascertained yet, and yes, we have been in talks with the former health minister of Mizoram, Lalrinliana Sailo and other politicians,” James Sangma said.

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Declining the allegations that the NPP were BJP funded party James Sangma said his party has its own ideology and that despite being a member of the NDA, his party opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

“These are mere rumours to confuse the people that NPP is being funded by the BJP, it is a misconception which opposition parties are spreading against us,” James said.

Speculations are rife in Mizoram as to who will head the new party in the state.  R Lalzirliana could be the Mizoram NPP leader with the backing of Congress MLA Lalrinliana Sailo, the former health minister under Lal Thanhawla led Congress ministry, who is also under the Congress loyalty scanner.

James Sangma said his party would contest the election without pre poll alliance, but however in case of hung assembly the party would be seeking post poll alliance.