Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 2
Decision day looms for the political set ups of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, as counting of votes cast in the recent elections held to these states will be taken up on Saturday.
In Nagaland, whichever party emerges victorious on Saturday; all bet is on the BJP playing a key factor, with both the NPF and NDPP expressing confidence at having a big hand in government formation.
Like the excitement to hear the results has not been enough, it looks like the three main players – NPF, NDPP and BJP – are entangled in a love triangle.
The story has so far been that of the BJP calling it quits with its former partner (NPF) and finding solace in an apparently eager NDPP for an electoral partnership. Another angle to story emerged on March 2 with the NPF hinting it has a soft corner for the BJP stoking flames of a possibly messy alliance affair.
The NPF chose counting day to release a statement to “clarify” its alliance status. It maintained that its former alliance with the BJP still stands and that it should clear all doubts and confusion.
The press note from the NPF Working President read “rampant circulation of rumours by certain sections of people with vested interests in the social media, doubts and misgivings have been created in the minds of the people about the actual status of NPF Party and its Alliance Partners of DAN…”
It reiterated the resolution taken by the party’s Central Executive Council (CEC) on January 23 on remaining an ally of the BJP. It reproduced the resolution as stating: "considering the urgency to create a congenial atmosphere for the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and the Naga National Workers (NSCN IM/ NNPGs) for political solution, the CEC considered it necessary to review the matter and resolved to maintain the earlier status of having alliance with BJP". “All doubts and confusions will be set to rest once and for all,” it added.
Factor in the Congress’ rather desperate overture to the NPF for a possible post-poll working partnership into the equation, if at all the grand old party wins some seats, the road to government formation is left to imagination.
As for the NDPP-BJP partnership,the NDPP appeared unmoved by the latest NPF stance with the alliance expressing hope of securing a clear majority on its own during a post poll assessment meeting held on Thursday.
Further, president of the Nagaland State Unit BJP, V Lhoungu’s statements to the media on eve of counting did little to clear the air of confusion.
In an interview with The Hindustan Times, Lhoungu maintained that the BJP will form the next government with the NDPP. “We expect to get more than 10 seats and form the next government with NDPP. The NPF is not confident and hence is talking about stitching up post-poll alliances,” he was quoted as stating in the interview.
The NPF has also been no less optimistic. “We expect to win 25-27 seats. The NPF alone might not be able to form the government, but we hope to retain power with the support of the NPP, which could get four to six seats. We are keeping options open. A lot will depend on how the NPP and Congress fare in Meghalaya,” NPF spokesperson Sebastian Zumvu said in the same interview.
The party’s optimism was also reflected by the incumbent Chief Minister, TR Zeliang during an interview with The Indian Express today. Meanwhile in Tripura, both the CPI-M and the BJP claimed that they will form the next government in the state.
CPI-M Tripura State Secretary Bijan Dhar said the Left parties were "more than confident" of forming the next government. BJP state President Biplab Kumar Deb said that people of Tripura wanted change and "strongly wished for a BJP government" in the state.
In Meghalaya, which saw around 84 per cent voting, the contest involves the ruling Congress, BJP, National People's Party (NPP) and the newly floated People's Democratic Front.
