In a major political development for the Northeastern region, leaders from different states and different political backgrounds came together in New Delhi to announce the beginning of a united political initiative called “One Northeast”. The announcement was made during a joint press conference on Tuesday, where TIPRA Motha founder and Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and National People’s Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma jointly addressed the media.
Speaking first, Conrad Sangma said that after many years of raising concerns individually and through different political parties, regional leaders have realised that the Northeast can only secure its rightful place in the national space if it speaks in one voice. He said the decision to begin this journey was taken after deep conversations, reflection, and recognition of the shared identity and challenges of the eight Northeastern states. He said that Northeast leaders have been fighting for identity, culture, development and the rights of people, but doing so separately from different political platforms. According to him, this has often weakened the region’s ability to push its priorities in New Delhi. With this new initiative, he said, the leaders want to present a united front that reflects confidence, seriousness, and maturity.
Conrad Sangma further said that the inspiration for this move comes from many respected leaders of the region who fought selflessly for the dignity of the people. He said the time has come to take their legacy forward in a structured and united manner. This announcement, he added, is only the first step and a formal beginning of a longer process. To move ahead, a committee of nine leaders from different Northeastern parties has been formed. This committee will submit a road map within forty-five days regarding how different political groups will merge, under what framework they will function, and what principles will guide the new political party. The committee will be led by former Meghalaya minister James Sangma, with former Nagaland minister and BJP spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon serving as member-secretary. Conrad Sangma said this committee will decide everything from structure to modalities and the constitution of the new political entity. 
At the press meet, Sangma said that this is not an alliance or a loose regional coordination forum, like attempts made in the past. He explained that the earlier efforts failed because the political parties involved retained their separate identities, which eventually weakened unity. This time, he said, the aim is to truly come together under one political roof and gradually form a single party, not just remain as a coalition. He said that if the region wants to be taken seriously and wants strong representation in national decision-making, then the leaders must sacrifice individual party identities and work as one.
He said that the initiative should not be misunderstood as an anti-government or anti-Delhi move. He said both he and other regional parties have worked with the central government and will continue to engage constructively. According to him, this new initiative is not meant to fight against anybody but to work for the greater good of the people of the Northeast. “We are part of one nation and we are not in a conflict with anybody,” Sangma said. He added that while every political party will naturally contest elections, the primary purpose of this effort is to ensure that the region’s concerns are heard loudly and clearly in Delhi and across India.
Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, who leads the TIPRA Motha party and has been active in championing indigenous rights in Tripura, also spoke at length during the conference. He said he is proud to stand together with Conrad Sangma and other leaders who share the same vision for the Northeast. He mentioned that leaders like James Sangma, Daniel Langthasa, Mhonlumo Kikon and senior leader B.K. Rangkhol are part of the initiative, and more voices are joining. He reminded the media that Rangkhol previously led the INPT party in Tripura before merging it with TIPRA Motha — a sign that unity in the Northeast is both possible and important.
Debbarma spoke openly and honestly about the need to shed egos and personal ambitions in order to build a better future for the people of the region. He said that for a very long time, leaders from the Northeast have spoken about the same issues; land, identity, culture, rights, future generations but they did so individually and from different platforms. This kept the voices scattered and weak. “If we speak in one voice, people will listen to us differently and our issues will be taken seriously,” he said. He pointed out that often even journalists and people in the rest of India cannot differentiate between people from Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, or Meghalaya. He said, this shows that culturally, socially, and geographically, people from the Northeast are seen as one, and yet politically they have remained divided. He argued that if the region wants true recognition, it must act united and not allow personal and party ambitions to come in the way.
Debbarma also highlighted the unique situation of the Northeast, which shares international borders with several countries, making the region’s strategic and cultural issues different from those of any other part of India. He said the region needs a strong and responsible political voice not only in the Northeast but also in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, where many Northeastern people study, work, and live. He emphasised that this move is not about opposing anyone but about securing dignity, rights, and future opportunities for the indigenous people of the region. He said the Northeast needs to be heard in the rest of India in a language of unity, honesty, and self-respect.
During the press interaction, both leaders reiterated that the new political entity will stand firmly on constitutional values. Sangma stressed that secularism and equality are part of the Indian Constitution, and this initiative will protect the rights of every community, irrespective of religion or ethnicity. He said that whether injustice happens in Bangladesh against minorities or within India against any group, this platform will raise its voice wherever constitutional rights are threatened. He said the aim is not confrontation but responsible and dignified representation. Debbarma repeated the same message, saying that the primary duty of leaders is towards the people, and the time has come to act together and speak as one.
In the press conference there was an united message: the Northeast region is ready to start a new chapter of political unity. Both leaders acknowledged that building a new political entity will take time, patience, and honest effort, but they expressed confidence that people from across the region will support this journey. They said unity is not just a political slogan but a necessity for the future of the region’s youth, its identity, and its role in the nation. Over the next few weeks, the committee will meet, consult, and prepare detailed plans. After forty-five days, the leaders expect to share the next steps publicly.
