Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 4 (EMN): Keeping an eye on Nagaland assembly elections to be held next year, the National People's Party (NPP) has started the groundwork with an aim to expand its footprints in the state.
The national general secretary of the party, Mutchu Mithi, who is also the president of NPP Arunachal Pradesh state unit, was on a visit to the state to take stock of the party’s organisational structure and discuss strategies for the assembly election which will be conducted in 2023.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s office in Kevijua, Dimapur, on Friday, Mithi said that Nagaland is very important not just for the NPP but also for the whole of Northeast region as the people are attached to their regional identity, which the party stands for. He added that the regional parties of Northeast need a common platform.
Speaking about the NPP’s prospect in Nagaland, he said that the party is relatively new to the state but managed to win two seats out of the 22 constituencies it contested in the previous assembly election in 2018, though the two candidates had unfortunately defected.
He expressed hope that by working with a renewed vigour, the party would be able to expand its footprint in the state in the next assembly polls.
The NPP national general secretary said that it’s too early to talk about the number of candidates it would field in the upcoming election and they were currently looking into the organisational structure of the party.
When asked about the party’s take on forging a pre-poll alliance, he said that it is “good” but uncomfortable to talk about it at the moment. Stressing on strengthening the party’s base, he said that other political parties will come forward to support only if a party is strong.
Mithi stated that fighting alone does not work sometime and Nagaland needs support from other states as well to achieve certain goals.
The NPP national general secretary said that Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh spend money the most during election among the north-eastern states.
While stating that every political party and leader know the money culture prevailing during the election, he said money comes from the coffers of the government.
‘And if they (people) want to stop money culture during the election, they need to bring in a transparent government,’ he said.
While informing that NPP is the only party from the Northeast that has become a national party, he said it can relate to sub-nationalism and assertion of regional identity and understand the tribal people of Northeast.
Mithi said that the party will respect the mandate of Manipur people and based on that make decisions, including becoming a stakeholder in the next government. He added that the party is open to working with any like-minded parties to form a stable government.
Informing that the NPP has second highest number of legislators in the current Manipur government, only next to the BJP, he expressed hope of becoming the single largest party in the state.
He went on to say that the party has the same hope in Nagaland as well in the next assembly election.
NPP Nagaland state unit president Dr. Andrew Ahoto said that ‘NPP is here for transformation and reformation with pro-secular, pro-youth and pro-development and has grown from strength to strength’.
He added that the party stands for unity of the Northeast.