Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party gets national party status

The National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma, became the first party from the northeastern region to be recognised as a national party. NPP was on Friday recognised as a national party by the Election Commission on fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criterion in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election and the State Assembly election in Arunachal Pradesh. The party was formed in 2013 by the late Purno Agitok Sangma, the father of Meghalaya Chief Minister and the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

The party, which till until recently only recognised as a state party in Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya, has also been given the status of a state party in Arunachal Pradesh, where it has won five seats in recently-held election.

A delighted Sangma tweeted, “It is a very nostalgic moment for all of us that the party founded by Late Purno Agitok Sangma has achieved its due recognition. It is not just an achievement for NPP but for the people of #Northeast for their overwhelming support and thrust bestowed on the party.”

Glad to announce to our party supporters, well-wishers and members of NPP that #ElectionCommissionOfIndia has accorded "National Party" Status to National People's Party @nppmeghalaya Thank you #Northeast for all your support. #BefittingTributeToPASangma #NPPForNortheast pic.twitter.com/aNt8W2RVfU

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 7, 2019

The Election Commission order stated, “Review of poll performance of the National People’s Party in the general election to the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh, 2019 shows that the candidates set up by the Party have polled 14.55% of the valid votes polled in the said general election, and in addition, the Party has won five out of the sixty seats in the Legislative Assembly. It is seen from the above poll performance of the party that it has fulfilled the requirements for recognition as State Party in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.”

The commission added, “The party was already a recognized state party in the States of Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland. After its recognition as State party in Arunachal Pradesh, it has become a recognized State party in four States i.e. Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Thus the Party has fulfilled the eligibility condition for being recognized as National Party as laid down in the Paragraph 6B (iii) {the party is recognized as State party in at least four States}. Accordingly, the Commission has granted recognition to ‘National People’s Party’ as a National Party. Further, as per the request of the Party; the symbol Book’ has been allotted as the reserved symbol for the ‘National People’s Party’.”