Conrad Sangma Fires Back at Congress Over “One North East” Criticism

A day after Meghalaya Congress president Vincent H Pala branded the newly launched “One North East” regional political front as a BJP-RSS strategy, Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Conrad K Sangma sharply retorted that the Congress does not need external help to stay divided.

“Nobody has to work to divide the Congress; it is already a divided house,” Sangma said on Tuesday. He claimed that while Congress leaders may appear united publicly, they pursue separate agendas behind the scenes, and added that the NPP remains in contact with several Congress legislators, though he declined to provide details.

Defending the “One North East” initiative, the Chief Minister emphasised that the platform is not aimed at opposing any party but at fostering greater unity among northeastern states. “We are here with a positive vision of unification. Only when the region speaks with one voice can we effectively address our issues and serve our people better,” he stated.

The Meghalaya unit of the BJP also strongly condemned Pala’s remarks. State BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang expressed dismay that a senior leader would level such allegations “without a shred of evidence.” He highlighted the party’s electoral success across the Northeast, noting that the BJP is in power in three states and part of the ruling NDA alliances in two others.

“People repeatedly vote for us because of our track record of good governance, inclusive development, and transparent politics—qualities the Congress has long forgotten,” Kharkrang said.

The war of words comes amid the recent formation of “One North East,” a regional political alliance led by NPP chief Conrad Sangma and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, which has triggered speculation about its impact on opposition unity and Congress's fortunes in the Northeast.

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