BJP alliance does not mean we believe in their ideology: Conrad Sangma

From being a party with just two MLAs in the last Assembly elections, the National People's Party (NPP), founded by former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma, has made great strides since. It is in a position to upset the Congress. Yet, the party's alliance with the BJP in Manipur and Rajasthan could prove to be a damper with the people. NPP leader, Tura Lok Sabha MP Conrad Sangma, spoke to Amrita Madhukalya about his father's legacy, beef politics and NPP's spectacular trajectory in the state. Edited excerpts:

In the last few years, the NPP's trajectory has been spectacular. What do you think has gone into that? Has your father's legacy played a part?

The foundation of the party has been strong. It was refounded by our late leader Purno A Sangma. His name is easy to click with. There can be many Conrad Sangma's trying to form a party and trying to win elections in Manipur and Nagaland, but when you have PA Sangma's name, it changes everything.

The party is focused on the Northeast, in the tribal issues of the region, and the religious minorities here. In the Parliament and my actions on the ground, I do whatever I can to help people from the region. We do not just talk. With the change of guard in Delhi and in the northeast and the Congress going down — there's a vacuum that's coming up. We see that as an opportunity.

The NPP's alliance with the BJP could prove to be a problem in a state like Meghalaya. The denial of a visa to religious leader Paul Msiza and the Centre's anti-beef policies are key election points.

Elections and ideologies are different. We are clear on our ideology and we fight elections on our own. Government formation is a different aspect; one needs to look at lots of factors, like money coming in from the Centre. In Manipur, it made more sense for us to ally with the BJP. But Congress makes it an issue. Who does Dr Mukul Sangma meet when he goes to Delhi? He meets Narendra Modi. If I'm working with BJP, then the Congress, too, is. If we ally with the BJP, it does not mean we believe in their ideologies by compromising our own.

As far as Paul Msiza's visa issue is concerned, there were 20 missionaries and reverends who were supposed to come here; 19 were given visa. No one's talking of them. I'm not saying it was justified, but if the BJP had canceled all the 20 visas, then that was wrong. They are politicising this issue.

The Garo Hills, with the concentration of political leaders usually makes it a tough fight in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. What does the NPP have to offer there?

Political parties tend to have a face-off in the Garo Hills. So in terms of numbers, Garo Hills is significant. When it comes to development, the NPP is very clear that we want everything to be spread out across the state. We are not going to look at a region alone or a tribe, we feel that's where things go wrong.

Meghalaya has been missing proper governance. The ruling party has not been able to deliver even the normal schemes and their implementation, and takes credit for Central schemes. Basic amenities like education has suffered a lot without proper facilities. The NPP will provide a roadmap, a proper vision for the state in terms of policy — in education, health, youth affairs, sports, etc. There are key areas like tourism and horticulture where we can grow a lot. People are not given the right opportunity in terms of processing rubber, areca nuts, and banana as there is no value addition and products go to waste. We will create jobs and opportunities.