Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. File Image | Photo credit: PTI
The ‘friendly fight’ with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in the Sibsagar constituency has diverted attention from the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) not-so-friendly contest with another component of the NDA – the National People’s Party (NPP).
The NPP has fielded candidates for the April 9 election in three constituencies, eight fewer than in 2021. MLAs Mohammed Aminul Islam from Mankachar, Ganseng B. Sangma from Boko-Chaygaon and Daniel Langthasa from Haflong are sitting in them.
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Mr Islam, who quit the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) before the elections, will face AGP’s Jabed Islam in Mankachar, which borders Meghalaya and Bangladesh. BJP’s Raju Mech and Rupali Langthasa are the main rivals of Mr. Sangma and Mr. Langthasa.
Mr Langthasa was one of four north-east leaders who came together a year ago to work on a “viable political alternative” in the region. Others are JE National President and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Tripura Party founder Tipra Motha Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma and former Nagaland BJP leader Mmhonlumo Kikon.
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Defending his party’s decision to contest the Assam polls, Mr. Sangma indicated that securing a strong position in Assam was more important to his party than fielding too many candidates. “We have identified selected constituencies based on long-term connections with local residents. We want to expand into Assam, but our aim is not immediate electoral gains,” he said, insisting that JE’s “small foray” into Assam should be seen as part of a broader, long-term strategy.
The only national party to emerge from the Northeast, the NPP was founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A. Sangma more than a decade ago. His son, Conrad Sangma, made JE a political force outside Meghalaya, its backyard.
JE retained power in alliance with BJP and others in Meghalaya in 2023 by winning 26 of the state’s 60 seats. It also won five assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh (2024 polls), Manipur (2022) and Nagaland (2023).
“We hope to open our account in Assam this time,” the chief minister said.
Although JE is part of the National Democratic Alliance, it has never had a pre-election link with its post-election partners.
Published – 26 March 2026 20:11 IST
