Sangma formally launches his National People's Party

Former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, who resigned from the Nationalist Congress Party to contest the presidential election against Pranab Mukherjee, formally launched his own political outfit 'National People's Party' (NPP) at a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday.

The nine-time MP had announced to form a new political party soon after his expulsion from the NCP in July 2012, when he refused to accept party decision to quit the Presidential election.

Talking to reporters, Sangma introduced his other party colleagues and office bearers including national working president Arvind Netam, Vice Presidents R. C. Verma, R. N. Meena and Veena Nair, general secretary Arun Tripathi, and said that the his party symbol is book, the symbol of knowledge and literacy.

"It is going to be a long and difficult journey for us. But,with the kind of chaos we are witnessing all over the country due to lack of leadership, we strongly believe that the country needs a change," said Sangma.

"Though this is a all-India party, open for all, but it is going to be tribal centric. We have hundred million tribal populations in India, 47 reserved seats in Lok Sabha, 57 MPs, 529 reserved assembly seats, and yet the tribals are the most exploited most exploited, neglected people of this country," he added.

Asked about whether his daughter, Agatha Sangma, a sitting MP from the NCP has also joined the new party, Sangma said: "For the time being she is still with NCP on technical grounds."

The nine-time MP further stated that the NPP will fight elections all over India, but the emphasis will remain in tribal dominated areas.

Sangma, who lost the Raisina Hill race to Pranab Mukherjee, was backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar was upset with Sangma's decision to contest the presidential election held in July last year.