Former Manipur MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze joins NPP, pledges to work for indigenous unity
The 65-year-old MP from Senapati district resigned from Naga People’s Front last week
Lorho S Pfoze with Conrad Sangma
Manipur, September 16: Former Lok Sabha MP from Manipur’s Outer Parliamentary Constituency, Dr Lorho S Pfoze, has formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP), on Tuesday. He had resigned from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) last week.
The induction took place at the party headquarters in Shillong in the presence of NPP national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Dr Lorho, a 65-year-old leader from Senapati district and a member of the Mao Naga community, represented Outer Manipur in the 17th Lok Sabha after securing victory in the 2019 general election on an NPF ticket.
A medical doctor by profession, he cited “personal reasons” for stepping down from the NPF in his resignation letter dated September 11 addressed to party president, Apong Pongener.
Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Dr Lorho expressed gratitude to the NPP leadership and stressed the need for unity among indigenous and tribal communities of the Northeast.
“We, as indigenous communities, must work together. The vision of late Purno Agitok Sangma is an inspiration for us all. His dream was to reach out to every community in this great nation. With NPP, I look forward to carrying forward that vision with inclusivity, truth, and honesty,” he said.
Welcoming the former MP into the party fold, NPP chief Conrad Sangma praised Dr Lorho as a respected leader widely accepted across Manipur’s diverse communities.
“He is soft-spoken, honest, and transparent, and his experience in public life will strengthen NPP in championing the cause of the Northeast. He is passionate about being the voice of our people and working for the entire region,” Sangma remarked.
The NPP chief further highlighted the party’s role as a platform for Northeast aspirations.
“Our late leader PA Sangma envisioned NPP as a voice for the region, filling the political vacuum. Today, the party has expanded across the Northeast, bringing together people from all walks of life. This is truly a moment to celebrate and unite for our people’s concerns,” he added.
The induction ceremony was attended by senior NPP leaders, including National Working President James K. Sangma, Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister and State President Prestone Tynsong, other ministers from Meghalaya, and party MLAs from Manipur, including State Working President Sheikh Noorul Hassan and Panmei Janghemlung.
Dr Lorho, while acknowledging his years with the NPF, thanked the party for the opportunities it provided him. “It was not an easy decision to resign, but I felt it was necessary at this stage of my political journey,” he said.