Nagaland like its neighbouring state of Meghalaya has not given a clear mandate to any party. It was a direct fight in most seats between the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF), in power since 2003, and the newly founded Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP combine.
Union minister and BJP in-charge for the state Kiren Rijiju said today, that the party's erstwhile ally NPF may align with it.
Rijiju, who extensively campaigned for the BJP and its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland, said the Congress was no where to be seen as the party has not won a single state in the 60-member Assembly.
"The BJP will form the government in Nagaland with the help of other parties," said Rijiju.
The results so far show that the NPF, JD(U) and NPP have secured 29 seats, while the NDPP and its poll partner BJP has won 28 seats. The BJP which has contested in 20 seats has failed miserably in the Christian state winning just three seats. The Congress which has given 3 chief ministers in earlier times, has failed to secure a single seat. The party which was largely unprepared to face the elections having joined the election boycott call given by the Naga Hoho and other civil society organisations had contested only 18 seats.
It was evident that the fight would be a close one when the NPF yesterday afternoon met the Governor and handed over the agreements it had entered into with the NPP and JD(U). The idea was to inform the Governor well in advance to minimise horse trading as also to let the Governor take a quick decision on government formation.
Voting in the state was held in 59 of the total 60 constituencies as three-time chief minister Neiphiu Rio of the NDPP has been declared elected unopposed from the northern Angami constituency.
As the polls this time in Nagaland was fought closely between Rio led NDPP and the NPF led by chief minister T.R. Zeliang, the BJP carried out a master stroke. Having kept its doors open for both the regional parties, it is sure to be a part of the government either way. This move has gone down well with the people of Nagaland who want the BJP should be a part of the state machinery as it would ease out the process of moving towards a solution to the long delayed Naga insurgency problem. In fact, though the BJP had a seat sharing agreement with the NDPP despite being a part of the NPF, it never severed its ties with the ally for 15 years. So whichever party forms the government in Nagaland, the BJP will be an integral part. In fact, chief minister T.R. Zeliang has been saying all along that the NPF was still with the BJP.
Voters in Nagaland has largely rejected the BJP due to the diktat of the Baptist Church which urged its followers not to bring the saffron party to power. The church leaders also denounced the fact that the Christian missionaries were not able to freely roam around in Nagaland unlike in earlier times. The Nagas could not be tempted by the promises made by the BJP that Rs 10,000 crores would be spent on roads, Rs 3000 crore for the Dimapur-Kohima rail line, Rs 800 crore for power connectivity, besides, Rs 1800 crore for making Kohima, a smart city.
The Congress basically did not stand any chance in Nagaland as the party has been out of power in the state for 15 years. Also the state Congress leaders bemoaned the fact that the AICC was not giving them due importance and necessary funds to fight the polls. It was definitely no-match to the BJP and the powerful regional parties.
The Nagaland result on the whole has been a big blow to the BJP and its ally the NDPP.
(With inputs from PTI)