Old guard vs new force in northeastern battles
GUWAHATI: All eyes will be on the BJP when two Christian-majority states – Meghalaya and Nagaland – go to the polls on Tuesday.
Anti-incumbency could be a major factor as the Congress (ruling Meghalaya since 2008) and the Naga People’s Front (ruling Nagaland since 2003) take on an aggressive BJP in the two states, respectively. Incidentally, the BJP was only a minor political irritant until five years ago. Elections will be held for 59 seats each in the two states. The counting of votes is scheduled for March 3, along with Tripura, which went to the polls on February 18.
MEGHALAYA
This state recorded nearly 88% voting in 2013, when the BJP’S total vote share stood at a mere 1.27%. All 13 candidates fielded by it forfeited their deposits, and it managed to garner just 16,800 votes across the state.
This time the BJP has fielded 47 candidates backed by an aggressive Narendra Modi-led campaign. The PM campaigned in the state twice.
The ruling Congress, on the other hand, retained power in 2013 by securing almost 35% votes and winning 29 seats. The party is hoping that well-attended rallies and roadshows conducted by president Rahul Gandhi would translate into voter support.
The Naga People’s Party (NPP), founded by late speaker PA Sangma, was not much of a threat to the Congress in the 2013 election. The party, which has a strong presence in Garo Hills, fielded 32 candidates, but only two won. This time, however, the NPP has fielded 52 candidates. The party is an ally of the NDA government at the Centre, but it has not entered into a pre-poll tie-up with the BJP.
The three-party alliance of the United Democratic Party, Hill State People’s Democratic Party and Garo National Council had won 13 seats in 2013.
This time, they are contesting from 54 seats. Independent candidates, on the other hand, won 13 seats five years ago and cornered 27% of the total votes — second to the Congress.
NAGALAND
This state saw over 90% polling in 2013, which is expected to be high this time, too. The battle here is between the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) and an alliance comprising the newly formed Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP.
Earlier this month, the BJP severed its 15-year-old alliance with NPF and joined hands with the NDPP. The BJP is contesting from 20 seats and the NDPP from the remaining 40.
The BJP had fielded 11 candidates in 2013, but secured just one seat and 1.75% of the total votes in the previous election. The Congress, for its part, contested from 56 seats and won eight. However, the party has fielded candidates from only 18 seats this time.
The NPF, with 47% vote share and 38 seats, retained power with ease in 2013. However, now that it has lost BJP as an ally and many party leaders have jumped ship to join NDPP, the battle is unlikely to be that simple this time.
However, the poll outcome notwithstanding, it would be interesting to see if Nagaland is able to elect its first woman MLA.