Only NPP can lead Manipur, northeast: Conrad
Source: Chronicle News Service

CCpur, February 04 2022: National People's Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma visited Chu-rachandpur district on Friday and interacted with party's candidates who are being put up in six assembly constituencies of the district.

During the visit, Gonrad was accompanied by deputy chief minister Y Joykumar and a host of other NPP leaders including NPP Ccpur district president V Chinkhenpau and party's candidates for the six assembly constituencies.

In his address, Conrad said that NPP took its birth in Manipur and it is his pleasure to visit the place where the party emerged.

He thanked people of Manipur particularly Churachand-pur for their positiveresponse and expressed hope that the party can raise issues pertaining to Manipur at the right platform.

There are different communities whose needs and aspirations are different from each other and NPP will make all-out effort to raise all these issues at the right forum.

Conrad Sangma also asserted that the NPP is the only party that is capable of leading Manipur and be the voice of the people of the northeast region.

We are convinced that the overwhelming support from the people of Manipur will ensure our party's victory in the ensuing election, he added.

While speaking at the political meeting and flag hoisting programme of Khanthang Tonsing, who is NPP nominee for Thanlon AC in Churachandpur district, Sangma also noted that the political scenario in Manipur is changing very fast.

"In the recent months and years, people have started losing faith in the different national parties that have come and ruled the state of Manipur.

People are looking for an alternative to lead the state.

People have given the chance to different national parties like the BJP and Congress but they failed to understand the complexities and the different needs of our people.

And hence, they are not been able to continue and sustain their efforts," said Sangma, who is on a four-day campaign trail in poll-bound Manipur.

Sangma said the people of Manipur are now looking at the NPP, a party that is made out of the northeast and a party that understands the different issues and areas of concern.

"Today, in different parts of the northeast, people have started accepting the NPP as a true alternative to govern the state.

In Manipur also, people are looking up to the NPP to show and lead the way to a new Manipur," he added.

The NPP chief is confident that his party will emerge as the single-largest party in the 12th Manipur Legislative assembly elections.

Upon his rival from Imphal, Conrad Sangma proceeded directly to Singhat AC candidate Nehminthang alias Thangboi's residence at Lailamveng and interacted with the candidate and his supporters.

NPP emerged as a national party due to overwhelming support and prompt response of people of the North East and the party expects to get good result in the Assembly election, he said during the interaction.

During the interaction, Y Joykumar said that the upcoming election will be a tough one in Churachandpur district as well as in the state as different communities settling in the district and the state have different issues.

He, however, exuded confidence that candidates fielded by NPP would win by virtue of their capacity and calibre as they are young and influential.

Conrad Sangma and party leaders then visited NPP candidate for Thanlon Khanthang Pake, son of late T Phungza-thang, where the main election campaign for all the six NPP candidates was held.

After the main programme ended, the NPP president went straight to residence of 58-Ccpur AC candidate Thangzalian (former Lamka Post editor) and then to residence of Khaipau Haokip, who is to contest election from Saikot AC on NPP ticket.

Thereafter he proceeded towards Imphal.

Interacting with this correspondent on the sideline of the meeting, Conrad K Sangma said that he is very impressed with the overwhelming response from supporters of NPP.

When this correspondent asked if NPP manifesto mentions inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in ST list of Indian Constitution if the party comes to power, Conrad Sangma said that there is no such point but heard of Manipur deputy CM Y Joykumar raising this point.

If the point was there in the manifesto, it could have been manipulated, he added.

On Thursday, the NPP released its third list of candidates for the Manipur polls.

The names of nine more candidates, including former BJP MLA from Wangkhei AC, Y Erabot Singh, were released by Sangma himself.

According to party sources, the NPP will contest all 60 seats in the Manipur assembly polls.

So far, the party has announced 42 candidates.

In 2017, the NPP had contested in nine constituencies, of which it won four seats and formed an alliance with the BJP-led government.

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