No party from Northeast front will back Cong, says Sangma

Declaring that none of the 10 regional parties from the Northeast that have come together to form a front will go with the UPA after the polls, former Lok Sabha Speaker and Meghalaya chief minister P A Sangma Wednesday said the parties will highlight issues concerning the region and are “free to join” the NDA or the third front post-elections as per their choice. Sangma heads the National People’s Party.

“The front formed is clearly against the Congress party. The Congress has failed the people of the Northeast and we want to make sure they realise where they stand. We will highlight national issues related to the Northeast,” Sangma said.

Rejecting the possibility of any of the 10 parties joining the Congress-led UPA after elections, Sangma said, “The question of any of the parties joining the UPA does not arise. But the parties are free to decide if they want to join the NDA or the so-called third front after polls.”

The North East Regional Political Front was formed in October last year and is contesting 21 LS seats across the Northeast. Issues being taken up by the front include AFSPA in Manipur and Assam and “frequent incursion of China in Arunachal’s territory”.