The NationalPeople's Party (NPP) which has been granted as the National Party by theElection Commission of India (ECI) on June 7 held its first NortheastCoordination (NECC) Committee meeting at Shillong on Saturday with an objectiveto further strengthen the party base in the region and propagate the vision andideology of the party.

The NECCmeet of NPP is headed by former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and politicalstalwart of Northeast Dr. D.D. Lapang who believes that the meeting will usherin an era of new progress for the party.

Lapang,while delivering his keynote address said that it is a crucial meeting as theparty will make an endeavour to formulate road map to take the vision andmission of the party to different nook and corner of Northeast.

He also saidthat the NPP's recognition as the National Party status will pave new way inthe regional political arena as NPP becomes the first party from the Northeastto be accorded with the National Party tag.

NPP ChiefConrad K Sangma, while speaking on the occasion said that the recognition ofthe party as the national party is a great achievement for the people of theNortheast. "I take this opportunity to congratulate each members of the partywho has worked tirelessly in different states of the region. It is a moment forall of us to remember the ideals of our late leader Purno Sangma whosecontribution to the party has led this possible. Though he is not amidst ustoday but his ideals will live forever."

Sangmafurther stated that NPP is not just a party from NE but a party purely createdby the NE to fulfill the aspirations of the people.