P A Sangma's NPP to contest in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh polls

SHILLONG: Banking on the tribal population in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the P A Sangma-led Nationalist People's Party (NPP) today said it would contest in the assembly elections of the two states to be held later this year.

The NPP would contest in all 47 tribal-reserved seats in Rajasthan and in at least 25 constituencies in Chhattisgarh, party president Sangma told reporters here.

To forge an alliance in Rajasthan, negotiation was on with the Gujjars led by Col (RtD) Kirori Singh Bainsla and the Jats headed by former minister Mahipal Maderna, the former Lok Sabha speaker said after a state executive committee meet.

If efforts to form such an alliance was successful, it would form a "formidable triangular battle" - the Congress, BJP and the NPP, Sangma said.

The tribal leader said the party was in talks with another party in Chhattisgarh for a pre-poll alliance and NPP would like to contest in at least 25 seats.

Sangma said he was pinning his hopes on the 30 per cent tribal population and 37 per cent OBC people of Chhattisgarh.

After breaking away from the NCP last year to contest the Presidential elections, Sangma had launched the NPP on January 5 in New Delhi.