NPP only party working to improve northeast’s condition: Irengbam Hemochandra

The National People’s Party (NPP) is the only political platform consistently working to improve the socio-economic and political conditions of the Northeast, the party’s national vice president Irengbam Hemochandra said on Monday, March 9 while urging greater unity and political consolidation across the region.

Speaking at a consultative meeting and induction programme organised by the NPP Manipur State Unit at Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal, Hemochandra emphasised the need to strengthen the party not only in Manipur but across the Northeast to effectively raise issues affecting the region. The event witnessed around 200 people from different parts of Manipur joining the party, a development NPP leaders described as a “historic moment.”

The newly inducted members were felicitated during the programme, which was attended by several NPP leaders from other northeastern states along with party legislators.

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the event, Hemochandra said joining the NPP was “almost like joining a movement for the Northeast,” as the party was committed to championing the interests of the region and its people. He pointed out that communities in the Northeast continue to face multiple challenges including underdevelopment, social discrimination and incidents of racism, and stressed the importance of collective action among northeastern states to address these issues.

“Strengthening the NPP, which is dedicated to amplifying the voice of the Northeast, is the need of the hour,” he said.

Reflecting on his political journey, Hemochandra noted that he had spent nearly three decades in the Indian National Congress before joining the NPP, adding that similar political shifts are being witnessed across neighbouring states where leaders from other parties are gravitating toward the regional outfit.

“It is like bringing together like-minded people who feel strongly about the future and identity of the Northeast,” he remarked.

The NPP leader also criticised national political parties for what he described as insufficient attention to the region. While acknowledging that major parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress have undertaken development initiatives across the country, Hemochandra said the Northeast often receives comparatively less focus — a perception he said was shaped by his long experience in politics.

Responding to questions about the NPP’s alliance with the BJP at the Centre, he clarified that the party maintains a distinct political identity and takes decisions based on prevailing political realities. “The NPP has its own ideology and identity. While alliances may be necessary in certain circumstances, the party will always work in the interest of the people of the Northeast,” he said.

The induction programme underscored the party’s efforts to expand its organisational base in Manipur and strengthen its presence across the region as it seeks to position itself as a political voice representing the aspirations of the Northeast.