Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 3
The BJP-NDPP-NPF love triangle reared on Saturday as hectic parleys for government formation ensued in Nagaland even well before counting culminated. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju was quoted as telling the media that the BJP would not shy away from courting its former partner (NPF) if the BJP-NDPP alliance failed to reach the halfway mark.
Rijiju’s comments came amidst the likelihood of a ‘hung’ Assembly with neither the NPF nor the NDPP-BJP alliance getting the required numbers. "Our chief ministerial candidate is Neiphiu Rio (NDPP leader). But if we do not cross the magic mark, then we will have to have some kind of understanding that the party`s leadership will decide," IANS quoted Rijiju as stating. He was further quoted as stating that the BJP has neither dumped the NPF nor has it quit the NPF-led government and that the NPF has passed a resolution saying it would continue its alliance with the BJP.
The air cleared by late evening with a confident NDPP-BJP alliance contradicting Rijiju’s comments by maintaining that the alliance has the numbers to helm the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
A state BJP leader tried to clear the air but not without defending Rijiju. According to the BJP leader, Rijiju’s statement came quite prematurely and at a time when the counting process was still in progress. Claiming, “We (NDPP-BJP) are going to form the government,” the leader added that the BJP’s national General Secretary Ram Madhav was already in the state. An aide of Madhav when contacted responded that there appeared to be confusion as regards Rijiju’s statement which has been cleared. According to the aide, the NDPP-BJP alliance has the numbers – BJP 12, NDPP 17, NPP 2, JD (U) 1 and the lone Independent extending support to form the government. The number would rise to 34 if the recounting at 6 Tening AC goes in favour of the NDPP candidate, he said. He added that Madhav was engaged in talks with the Chief Ministerial candidate Neiphiu Rio and party in Dimapur to form the government. The NDPP camp could not be reached for comment.
Recounting was affected at 6 Tening AC reportedly after the NDPP candidate called for a recount. The state Election office confirming the recount informed that the result of the said constituency was withdrawn “for the time being.” The final results sheet released by the CEO Nagaland featured the remark "Result is forwarded to ECI" for the said constituency.
Lone rangers extend support
The JD (U)’s sole winner and the only Independent to win, G. Kaito Aye and Tongpang Ozukum have extended ‘Letter of Support’ to the NDPP-BJP alliance. Aye won from 36 Satakha AC and Ozukum from 24 Angetyongpang AC. In their respective letters to the NDPP president, both stated, “This letter is being issued under my signature on my own volition and under no pressure from any section.”
