New regional force? Northeast parties announce merger; Conrad Sangma leads charge

NEW DELHI: A rare show of unity is taking place as leaders in the Northeast make a bid to forge a new regional force. On Tuesday, leaders from four regional parties, including Meghalaya chief minister and National People's Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sangma , announced plans to merge into a single political entity aimed at amplifying the voice of the region.

Among the signatories of the joint statement were Pradyot Manikya of TIPRA Motha , Daniel Langthasa from the People’s Party, Assam, and BJP spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon .

However, key regional players such as Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement, Nagaland’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, and the Asom Gana Parishad -- the BJP’s ally in Assam have opted to stay out of the initiative for now.

"We, leaders from different states of the North East, have come together today to make a collective and historic announcement, i.e., the coming together of various voices of our region to form a united singular political entity that truly represents the aspirations of our people," the statement said.

A committee has been set up to chart the next steps, including defining the structure, strategy, and working model of the proposed front.