Meghalaya chief minister and National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma extended full support to People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate Dr Chumben Murry in the upcoming election to the state’s lone Lok Sabha seat.
Sangma made the announcement at a press conference held at the state NPP office, Walford, after a meeting with Rio at the latter’s residence. He also announced that the NPP would support the NPF Lok Sabha candidate for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
Sangma said the purpose of his visit to Nagaland was to convene a state committee meeting with NPP workers, where several resolutions were passed based on proposals from the state committee. He disclosed that the first resolution was to support Dr. Murry. In his meeting with Rio, Sangma said several other issues pertaining to the ruling coalition which were discussed but declined to offer details. He said the meeting with Rio was positive, where representatives of other political parties, including the BJP, were present to discuss details of the electioneering.
“We are very happy to give our support to the NDPP candidate,” he stated. Sangma said he held detailed discussion with the five NPP legislators and state unit leaders regarding organisation and strengthening the party.
About portfolio assignments to NPP MLAs, Sangma admitted the challenges of running a coalition government and stressed assigning responsibilities to legislators. Also Sangma said he raised this issue with Rio during the meeting, and to see how the expertise of NPP MLAs could be used for the overall betterment of the state. He said NPP as a coalition partner expected “certain responsibilities” for its legislators
On internal rifts within the state NPP, he remarked that dissent was inherent in every political party, but emphasised navigating through the challenges collectively. He assured that the party would prioritise issues that best served the best interests of the state and people, ensuring that all voices were heard and concerns addressed as per democratic principles.
On the decision to join the opposition-less government in the state, Sangma attributed this to his late father P.A. Sangma’s relationship with Rio. Stressing a democratic process that involved political competition, he reiterated the NPP’s commitment to addressing people’s concerns even while collaborating with the government.
“Whenever and wherever necessary, if there are certain issues that needed to be taken up for the larger interest of the people, the National People’s Party would never shy away from raising those concerns and issues and we will take them up in the right manner,” he said.
Asked whether he was confident that the elected NPP MLAs would not desert the party unlike what had happened post the 2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) election, he replied that politics was always uncertain as leaders looked at the situation and took decisions.
Though there were many challenges, he expressed happiness that the team was sticking together and moving forward. “If a situation arises where a NPP MLA has concerns, we will discuss and see how to handle the situation,” he stated.
Asked on his opinion on the electoral bonds, the NPP chief termed the move as a step towards transparency in political funding.
He highlighted the Supreme Court’s intervention in ensuring disclosure of donations, terming it a transparent process, but refrained from commenting on the court’s decision.
“The decisions of the government and Election Commission to make electoral bonds were correct,” he stated.
On the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, he replied that it was a judicial process and would not comment on the issue.
With regard to the freezing of Congress’s bank accounts, he termed it as procedural, pointing out that the party did not file certain returns, for which the normal procedure was freezing of bank accounts.
He claimed that this procedure was not done out of the box for certain parties though this was not an issue to be looked at politically.
On the reported atrocities on minority Christians in Assam, Sangma clarified that such actions were not sanctioned by the government but by fringe organizations.
Refraining from commenting on the Assam government’s silence, he emphasised a prompt and clear response from authorities to condemn such actions. He however underlined that such issues should not be suppressed, adding that the respective state governments must respond and react on the matter. He urged the Government of Assam to come up with necessary response if necessary, and make it clear that it did not support such acts.