Pointing to the shrinking political space of key regional players such as AGP in Assam and the mounting pressures faced by leaders like Promod Boro under the present BJP-led dispensation, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma has warned that the Centre—regardless of the ruling party—has historically expanded into regional territories, arguing that the Northeast cannot afford political fragmentation when national parties are steadily reshaping the region’s political landscape. Pradyot underscored that only a consolidated regional front—one strong Northeast political party representing indigenous aspirations—will be able to negotiate from a position of strength in New Delhi. He stressed that a united regional platform is no longer just ideological but a strategic necessity for safeguarding the region’s political identity.
Driving home his point with historical and contemporary references, Pradyot said:
“Centre whoever is in Centre when Indira Gandhi was in Centre, She ate up all the regional parties. When BJP is there, obviously, you see what’s happening to AGP, you see what is happening to Promod Boro, you see what is happening to Akali Dal or Shiv Sena, So a strong National Party will obviously try to go to other territories. We have to stand strong and we have to speak for our people. That’s it.”
Citing Chirag Paswan as an example of how small numbers can translate into national negotiating power, he added:
“If 5 seats by Chirag Paswan can control BJP Government all over India, why can’t we have six or seven Lok Sabha MPs which will be a powerful lobby to put our people voices across Delhi.”
He reiterated that the new regional party would be a single entity, even while exploring alliances with like-minded regional partners. “It will be a political party which can have alliances with other political Parties and we are open to have alliances with other like-minded parties there is no problem in that. But we will have one entity and one political party. Obviously Congress and BJP will not join us because they have their own parties and they have their own views on many things, ours is more concentrated towards the indigenous People rights.”
On his status in NEDA, Pradyot drew a sharp distinction:
“I’m actually not a part of NEDA, Conrad is definitely part of NEDA and I don’t think on that this has anything to do with North East Democratic Alliance, but I’m not a part of NEDA, though, I have two people in the BJP led government that is purely based on the Tripura accord and if it is implemented, we will remain, if it’s not implemented we will have to then decide where to go.”
Invoking the vision of earlier Northeast leaders, he said:
“Purno Sangma dream was to unite North East under one political banner, my grandfather also had an idea of uniting Northeast under that time there was no political system, but as a political or as a geographical lobby, and I think we have to do that.”
On discussions with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for a One NorthEast entity, Debverma said:
“Conrad and me are in advanced talks and I think the word is not merger, the word will be amalgamation, when two rivers come together and confluence and make into a third river. So we are looking at that process…”
Rejecting hierarchical interpretations of political relationships, Pradyot added:
“BJP has never been my big brother, I have an elder sister. I don’t have a big brother so you know you all are finding words like big brother small brother. That’s why we in North East are called sometimes people in Delhi and North India, the Toilet of India. So let’s not coin these things as big brother. There is no bigger brother, to me than my people. My people are my biggest asset. If not any political party.”
Calling central funds a national entitlement, not party largesse, he said:
“It is not BJP’s money, Tomorrow. If communist party is in power, they will give funds. It is not that only a party is giving funds, it is the government of India. Narendra Modi ji is the prime minister of India, not prime minister of BJP, Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition, not only of Congress, but of the entire opposition. So funds will come from whichever Central party is the centre, but we have to negotiate with whoever is there at the Centre.”
On political outreach in Meghalaya, he noted:
“NPP itself is a regional party. I mean National Party based on Meghalaya largely, I am open to talk, I have very good relationship with Ardent, ofcourse I have not spoken to him on this issue, but I have a personal regard for him. I can talk to Adrian, But it will also depend on what the equation is between npp and vpp, but I will never spoil my personal relations with Paul Lyngdoh, who is a friend of mine. I’ve been with Paul Lyngdoh since the last 30 years.”
He stressed that unity is key for regional influence:
“So we keep on talking and we all agree that if you unite, New Delhi will take us seriously. The problem is that there is certain elements. We don’t want us to unite because if we speak in different voices, the same thing. We will be weaker.”
