National Peoples’ Party to field 40 candidates in State Assembly polls

Two ministers, 6 MLAs leave BJP

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The National Peoples’ Party (NPP) led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has decided to field 35 to 40 candidates in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly elections due on April 11 next.

“The party with regional outlook and vision to work for the interest of the region will field candidates in 40 assembly seats in the State,” party’s general secretary Thomas Sangma told a press conference here on Tuesday.

The party which received a shot in its arm during the day after State Home Minister Kumar Waii and Tourism Minister Jarkar Gamlin along with seven sitting MLAs joining the party’s fold.

The ministers and six sitting MLAs who were denied BJP tickets include Tapuk Taku (Seppa East), Kardo Nyigyor (Likabali), Pani Taram (Koloriang), Paknga Bage (Dumporijo), Wangling Lowangdong (Borduria-Bogapani) and Thangwang Wangham representing Longding-Pumao constituency.

Another sitting MLA Nikh Kamin representing Bordumsa Diyun constituency who was with the PPA also joined the NPP.

Besides one former minister Tsering Gyurme and 18 BJP ticket aspirants also joined the party to contest the polls.

“We are not going to enter in any pre-poll alliance with any party and will fight the election alone to form a NPP government in the State so that voice of the state could be raised in New Delhi through the party,” Sangma said.

He added that the party would soon decide on fielding Lok Sabha candidates in Arunachal Pradesh.

“We are going to field seven Lok Sabha candidates in Assam, one each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Kerala and Bihar respectively,” the party general secretary disclosed adding, the party would announce the candidate list for the Assembly polls on Wednesday.

Sangma further informed that party president Conrad Sangma would soon visit the state to kick-start election campaign. He added that ‘winability’ would be the main criteria for selecting the candidates.

NPP state unit spokesperson Mutchu Mithi however, informed that the party with secular nature would think for post-poll alliance keeping in mind the people’s mandate.

“The party if required will go for post-poll alliance with like-minded parties with secular nature, so that the voice of Northeast could be raised in the national capital,” Mithi said adding, taking into consideration, the party leaders would take a collective decision in this regard. The NPP is a constituent member of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) with Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma as its convenor.

Responding to media queries, Home Minister Waii said that the BJP has lost its previous glory in the eyes of the people for its ‘false promises’. “We are not only to fight election but to install a NPP government in the State,” Waii added.

Also read: Arunachal news