Imphal, April 07 2009: Congress has neglected the tribal peoples of the North Eastern region, said PA Sangma, General Secretary of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who arrived in the state today in connection with the election campaign for the NCP candidate, LB Sona in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, while addressing a public meeting held at Churachandpur town.

PA Sangma arrived here with his son Z Sangma by air today and attended the NCP election meeting held at the YPA ground, New Lamka.

Addressing the gathering he blamed Congress for all the sufferings of the people of North Eastern region.

He said, the states of the North Eastern region could not march ahead in the field of development as the Congress which had ruled the country for the longest period has always neglected the region.

"Congress has always neglected and is neglecting the tribal people of the North East," Sangma reiterated.

He urged the people not to believe the promises made by the Congress.

He also expressed confidence that more candidates of NCP from the region would win the election.

With the improvement of the party's position, more development works can be taken up in the region as NCP is always concerned about the poor and underdeveloped people of the country.

Sangma further observed that the mindset of thinking only for particular communities prevailing among the people of the region is the main cause of the region remaining for behind the other parts of the country.

"Let's leave working in the interest of a particular community alone and let's make a concerted effort to lead the region to march ahead and speed up the development process," he appealed to the people.

Sangma further said that now the final day of the Congress regime in New Delhi is getting closer.

Congress will do nothing for the development of the region.

So to bring a change in the region in general and in particular in the state, a change in the regime is a must, he added.

Around 30 nominees of the NCP are in the fray in the North Eastern Region.

Elected candidates will join hands and fight with common effort to avail of all the facilities that could be obtained as a part of the Indian union, he said.

O Joy of MPP who also addressed the gathering said, Congress has become a party who join the efforts to break the territorial integrity of the state as the party talks of Naga integrity in Nagaland even as it talks about protection of the territorial integrity of the state.

In such condition, who will believe this party (Congress), he said talking elaborately that Congress in Nagaland included integration of Naga inhabitant areas in its election manifesto while its general secretary at the Centre Rahul Gandhi assured the people here about the protection of the integrity of the state.

Former chief minister and president, NCP state unit, Radhabinod Koijam said sending out of Thangso Baite hailing from Churachandpur by the Congress as its candidate has showed that the party wanted to disintegrate the territory of the state.

He said fielding Baite as their candidate is nothing but to break the vote bank of LB Sona.

He further observed that in the last five as MP, Mani Charenamei did not talk about the territorial integrity of the state.

He always talks in favour of the Naga only.

He may have talks about Nagas even in his dream.

LB Sona, a nominee of the NCP is among the nine candidates to fight for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency with Congress candidate Thangso Baite, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, T Loly Adanee, People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) candidate Mani Charenamei are the considered to be the main contender of the ST reserved.

A total of 17,27,240 registered voters are likely to exercise their franchise in the outer Manipur constituency where polling will go on April 16 .

Ukhrul district has 1, 00,994 voters, Senapati district has 1, 44,383, Tamenglong district has 78, 126, Churachandpur district has 1, 75,696, Chandel district has 91, 406 while seven ACs of Thoubal district lying within the same constituency has 1, 85,021, and Jiribam AC has 26, 587 .

Recently formed, Manipur Democratic Alliance comprising the MPP, MSCP, NNP and NCP has declared LB Sona as their common candidate.

Many leaders of the NCP state unit and other parties extending support to the NCP attended the meeting held in connection with the election of the party.

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