Reshaping the political landscape of India’s northeast, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Tipra Motha president Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma and former BJP spokesperson Mamhonlumo Kikon on Tuesday announced plans to form a new regional political entity.
The leaders, whose respective parties – National People’s Party (NPP) and Tipra Motha – are allies of the BJP, described the initiative as a “historic step” aimed at providing a unified political platform for the people of the region.
What is the new political entity about?
Announcing the development at a press conference, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the move was aimed at bringing together the diverse voices of the Northeast under one banner.
Sangma said, “We have decided to work together for a separate political entity for the Northeast. We have formed a committee which will submit a report in the next 45 days. We are not here to fight any political party – our primary focus is on the people of the Northeast. The idea is to give a platform to the people of the Northeast.”
He further said, “The committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of reaching out to other political parties.”
Outlining the priorities of the entity, Sangma stressed that protecting the land rights of indigenous communities will remain central to its agenda.
“The protection of indigenous people’s land rights is a primary concern,” he said. “Our parties are going to merge and become one political entity at the right time,” he said.
Who are the major leaders involved in this?
The new regional platform has been jointly launched by four prominent people from the Northeast – Conrad Sangma (NPP, Meghalaya), Pradyot Manikya Debbarma (Tipra Motha, Tripura), Mamhonlumo Kikon (BJP, Nagaland) and Daniel Langthasa (People’s Party, Assam).
All four leaders were signatories to a joint statement announcing the formation of the proposed entity.
“We, the leaders of the various states of the North East, have come together today to make a collective and historic declaration, that is, the coming together of the diverse voices of our region to form a cohesive single political entity that truly represents the aspirations of our people,” the statement said.
The initiative aims to strengthen political representation in the eight northeastern states, which have often seen fragmented regional politics.
What did Pradyot Manikya say about the initiative?
Tipra Motha founder and royal descendant Pradyota Manikya Debbarma, known for his advocacy of indigenous rights, described the effort as one of unity and purpose rather than confrontation.
Manikya said, “We want to speak for our people with conviction and truth. We may have different views but we are not in a civil war. Efforts have been made earlier also to create a platform. We are not here to fight with anyone but to fight for our rights.”
Which parties are not part of the alliance yet?
Although many influential leaders from the Northeast have expressed support, some major regional parties have opted out for now.
Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which currently rules Mizoram; Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), the ruling party in Nagaland; And Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), BJP’s ally in Assam, is not yet part of the proposed political grouping.
However, media reports indicated that the new committee formed by Sangma and others would soon reach out to these and other regional actors to explore possible collaboration.
Why does this matter for the political future of the Northeast?
The Northeast has long been a mix of distinct ethnic, linguistic and cultural identities – often reflected in fragmented political loyalties. By seeking to unite regional parties and leaders, this initiative could define how the region interacts with national politics in New Delhi.
Analysts suggest that the move could serve two objectives: to emphasize regional autonomy within the federal framework and to interact more effectively with national parties on developmental and constitutional matters.
With both the NPP and Tipra Motha maintaining working relations with the BJP, the formation of an independent political platform could also restructure alliances ahead of future state and national elections.
what comes next?
A joint committee has already been formed to determine the structure, scope and policy framework of the proposed party.
“A committee has been formed to deliberate on the future course of action, including the modalities and structure of the proposed political entity,” according to the joint statement.
The committee will submit its recommendations within 45 days. Once its findings are reviewed, the merger process of the participating parties is expected to begin “at the right time”, as indicated by Sangma.
For now, the leaders have said that their initiative is not an act of protest but a step towards collective empowerment.
“We are not here to fight any political party,” Sangma reiterated. “Our primary focus is on the people of the Northeast.”
way forward
The coming months will decide whether this proposed platform will move from rhetoric to reality. Its success will depend on whether it can maintain unity amidst the powerful attraction of national parties like BJP and Congress.
As Pradyot Manikya succinctly put it, “We are not here to fight with anyone but to fight for our rights.”
