Regional unity gains momentum as NPP, TMP, and other Northeastern parties plan to form a joint platform to protect indigenous rights and strengthen regional identity. Key leaders from Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, and Assam to announce alliance in New Delhi.
The National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), headed by Tripura royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, are expected to form a new regional alliance aimed at safeguarding indigenous interests across the eight North-eastern states.
According to sources, leaders from Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur are also likely to join the initiative, creating a broad coalition of regional parties and tribal leaders to assert a collective political voice for the Northeast.
A TMP leader in Agartala confirmed that NPP chief Conrad K. Sangma, TMP supremo Pradyot Debbarma, former BJP national spokesperson and Nagaland Minister Mmhonlumo Kikon, and Daniel Langthasa, founder of the People’s Party from Assam’s Dima Hasao district, would jointly address a press conference at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on Tuesday to announce their future roadmap.
A New Platform for Indigenous Voices
The new platform, insiders suggest, will focus on protecting the socio-political and cultural identity of the indigenous communities while addressing regional grievances that often go unheard in national politics. The initiative aims to unify regional aspirations under one umbrella, ensuring that critical issues such as land rights, migration control, and resource management are addressed with a common strategy.
Both the NPP and TMP are currently partners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) but have, on multiple occasions, raised concerns about the representation and autonomy of indigenous groups.
TMP founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary as Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in Kokrajhar earlier this month, had publicly called for regional unity. Debbarma emphasized that “the time has come for the Northeast to speak in one voice” to protect the interests of its indigenous people.
Uncertain Role of BPF
While Debbarma’s attendance at the BPF ceremony hinted at expanding the regional outreach, it remains unclear whether the Bodoland People’s Front will formally join the new regional coalition. Political analysts, however, see this move as a potential game-changer for regional politics, especially ahead of key elections in several states, including the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls early next year.
TMP’s Uneasy Ties with BJP
The Tipra Motha Party, which signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the state government on March 2, 2024, joined the BJP-led coalition five days later, reshaping Tripura’s political equation. Two TMP legislators — Animesh Debbarma and Brishaketu Debbarma — were later inducted into Chief Minister Manik Saha’s Cabinet.
However, the relationship between the TMP and BJP has been far from smooth. Despite being coalition partners, TMP leaders have accused the BJP of delaying the implementation of the tripartite accord and ignoring indigenous concerns. TMP’s frontal organisations have been holding agitations demanding deportation of illegal migrants and full execution of the signed agreement.
Earlier in September, TMP staged a major protest in Delhi reiterating these demands. Later in October, the Tiprasa Civil Society (TCS), a TMP-affiliated group, enforced a 24-hour shutdown across Tripura, leading to violent clashes in Dhalai district where over a dozen people, including officials, were injured.
The Road Ahead: Towards a United Northeastern Voice
With over 12 million tribal people spread across the region, the proposed alliance could emerge as a powerful force in shaping policy and political discourse in the Northeast. The NPP, already a dominant player in Meghalaya and expanding its base in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, and the TMP, which governs the 30-member TTAADC, represent substantial indigenous constituencies.
If successfully formed, this coalition could alter the political dynamics not only in the region but also at the national level, giving the Northeast a stronger say in matters of governance, development, and cultural preservation.
Political observers believe this new front will also act as a counterbalance to national parties, pushing for greater autonomy and regional cooperation. The alliance may further serve as a platform to negotiate collective demands with the Centre, ranging from infrastructure development to constitutional safeguards for indigenous rights.
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The formal announcement of this coalition, expected at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, will likely mark the beginning of a new chapter in Northeastern politics — one driven by regional solidarity, cultural pride, and indigenous empowerment.
