NEDA launched, BJP says ‘time rife for making Northeast Congress-mukt’

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“The launch of NEDA proves that a Congress-mukt Northeast is feasible. Our immediate agenda is to form our governments in Manipur and Meghalaya,” said Sarma, who played the pivotal role in the BJP-led alliance’s victory over the Congress in the assembly elections. The BJP has assured it would give good governance to the Northeastern states, he added.

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While two parties from Meghalaya — UDP and NPP — have already joined NEDA, the BJP is yet to find a regional partner in Manipur. The two states are going to polls early next year.

Sarma, who also holds the Number 2 position in the government in Assam, also made it clear that the BJP would partner with regional parties in its plan to make the Northeast Congress-free.

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“Earlier, regional parties of the Northeast had their own forum, but did not have any national back-up. The BJP has assured them that it will be
their equal partner. This assurance itself has given a big boost to the regional parties,” Sarma, who was till September 2015 in the Congress, said.
This was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas”, he said.

Wednesday’s event saw the presence of leaders of as many as 10 regional parties from across the region. While three non-Congress, non-Left chief
ministers — T R Zeliang (Nagaland), P K Chamling (Sikkim) and Kalikho Pul (Arunachal) — attended the conclave, others who shared the dais with Shah included Mizo National Front chief Zoramthanga, AGP president Atul Bora, Bodo People’s Front chief Hagrama Mohilary, National People’s Party president Conrad Sangma and United Democratic Party chief Donkupar Roy. Leaders of Ganashakti (Assam) and Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura also joined the conclave.