Shillong, Apr 2 (IANS): National People's Party (NPP) President Conrad Sangma on Tuesday stressed on the need for a regional parties' combine to take on national level political parties.

"The national parties will always have a national outlook, but one must realise the regional differences of the states and that is the reason why today it is very important that the regional forces join hands," he said.

Sangma referred to the untapped potential of the Northeast and said, "It is time we realise that our future lies in our hands, we cannot let our future be controlled by somebody else or by people sitting in Delhi who may not understand of our needs."

Addressing a rally here, the Meghalaya Chief Minister said that there were times when national parties received support from people in the states, but they did not respect the people's sentiments.

"National parties like the Congress talked about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, but a Congress MP from Assam supported the Bill and wrote a letter congratulating Modi government for bringing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill," he said.

Sangma was addressing the rally to seek support for Jemino Mawthoh, the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from Shillong. Mawthoh is the consensus candidate of the ruling NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

He is pitted against outgoing Congress MP Vincent H. Pala, BJP candidate Sanbor Shullai and three Independents -- T.H.S. Bonney, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani.