With Northeast Democrartic Alliance, BJP on mission in the northeast

GUWAHATI: BJP is ready with mission Northeast India. Four states of the region has joined a non-Congress alliance — Northeast Democrartic Alliance ( NEDA) — to pursue issues confronting the region.

Chief minister of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim attended a meeting in this regard in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Tripura is ruled by Left parties and Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram is ruled by the Congress. BJP is eyeing its presence across the region which has for long remained in the Congress stronghold.

BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma is made convenor of the NEDA. Political analysts believe that the BJP leader was given a larger role after he successfully handled the Assam assembly polls.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: “Definitely the reason behind this platform is political. They (BJP) are vying for expansion in Northeast India. BJP is taking the space of regional party.”

In his first meeting with the council of ministers, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal decided to end syndicates and illegal activities immediately. It also decided to do away with interviews for the third and fourth grade government jobs in consonance with the Central government’s policy. The chief minister also emphasised on the need of achieving ‘maximum governance’ to ensure that files are pushed faster and decisions are taken at the earliest. Sonowal also paid a visit to the office of State Coordinator of National Register of Citizens and took stock of the work.