Imphal: Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad Sangma on Saturday said there is a “large vacuum” in Manipur’s political landscape, with many people looking for a platform that genuinely understands their concerns and aspirations.
Addressing a press conference after attending the NPP’s annual convention at the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Sangma said interactions with residents during his two-day visit indicated that people were “tired and exhausted” by the prolonged crisis in the state.
He said the NPP, as the largest regional party from the Northeast, is well-positioned to fill that political space because of its understanding of the region’s diverse communities. However, he acknowledged that the party still has considerable work to do in understanding the state’s complex local issues.
As part of his visit, Sangma said the party held a series of organisational meetings to strengthen its base, inaugurated the NPP’s new office at Mantripukhri in Imphal in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections, met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and later called on the Governor to discuss the prevailing situation in the state.
Expressing concern over the continuing unrest in Manipur, Sangma said rebuilding trust among different communities would remain a key priority for the party.
He said lasting peace would require sustained dialogue and engagement with community leaders, adding that meaningful progress could only be achieved by reconnecting communities and rebuilding bridges of trust.
Sangma also underscored the government’s responsibility in restoring normalcy, saying those responsible for creating unrest must be dealt with firmly. Maintaining a strong law-and-order system, he said, is essential to ensuring peace and harmony.
Highlighting the economic impact of the conflict, Sangma said livelihoods and economic activities have been severely affected. He stressed that economic revival through employment generation and improved livelihood opportunities would be critical to achieving long-term peace in the state.
On the party’s electoral plans, Sangma said the NPP has witnessed a significant increase in public support since 2017. However, he said the decision on whether the party will contest all 60 Assembly constituencies in the 2027 Manipur elections will be taken by its election committee.
Clarifying the party’s stand on alliances, Sangma said the NPP will not enter into any pre-poll alliance for the 2027 Manipur Assembly elections, maintaining that every political party should seek an independent mandate from the people. He added that any decision on a post-poll alliance would depend on the electoral mandate.