New Delhi: Top regional leaders from the Northeast have come together to form a new political party aimed at amplifying the region’s collective voice and addressing long-standing concerns often overlooked in national politics.
The proposed outfit — not a merger of existing groups but a fresh political platform — will focus on safeguarding indigenous rights, curbing illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar, ensuring border security, and promoting balanced development across the eight Northeastern states.
Among those spearheading the initiative are Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, Nagaland minister and former BJP spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon, People’s Party of Assam founder Daniel Langthasa, and NPP national working president James Sangma.
Several influential political and tribal leaders from Nagaland, Manipur, and other states are also expected to join the new front.
Announcing the development, Conrad Sangma said the time had come for the Northeast to assert itself as a united political force. “Our people deserve to be heard, respected, and represented through a strong, indigenous voice at the national level,” he said.
TMP chief Debbarma echoed the sentiment, calling for unity among regional players.
“For too long, we’ve spoken of our land, our people, and our future — but in isolation. When we speak together, the rest of India will have to listen,” the Tripura royal scion remarked.
Both the NPP and TMP are currently partners of the BJP-led coalition in their respective states, but the new development signals a potential shift in regional dynamics.
The move gained traction after Debbarma’s visit to Assam’s Kokrajhar district last month, where he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary as Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
Debbarma had then called for closer collaboration among Northeastern political forces. Whether the BPF will formally join the new initiative remains uncertain.
Leaders of the proposed front are expected to formally unveil their plans and objectives at a press conference at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The Tipra Motha, which joined the BJP-led government in Tripura in March 2024 following a tripartite accord, has continued to push for the implementation of the agreement and stricter action against illegal migration.
Relations between the TMP and BJP, however, have remained uneasy in recent months, marked by sporadic tensions and protests in the state.
With elections to several autonomous councils approaching, the emergence of this new political formation could redefine alliances and reshape the power balance in the region’s complex political landscape.
