On a day when the Supreme Court restored the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh, senior BJP leader and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said northeastern India would be free from Congress.
Sarma said North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) will play a crucial role in having a Congress-free northeast.
"In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, there will be no Congress MP from northeast. All the 25 MPs from the region will be from NEDA," he said adding NEDA will also come to power in Meghalaya and Manipur after the coming Assembly polls.
Sarma was speaking at the first conclave of NEDA where BJP president Amit Shah expressed optimism over NEDA will bring the region closer to mainland India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance.
"Even after 68 years of Independence, northeast is not developed while many areas in India have developed. Problems like infiltration, insurgency and the Centre not giving enough attention are to be blamed for this," Shah said.
