Today is the poll-result day for the assembly elections held in three north-eastern states. Nagaland saw 75% voter turnout on the election day. The north-eastern state which has 60 assembly seats saw mainly regional players as main parties contesting but the Bharatiya Janata Party had announced an alliance with the Nationalistic Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
Nagaland’s recent political history has seen many ups and downs. The state has been under president’s rule twice and Chief Ministers had to be elected five times in as many years. The state is also constantly under threats from insurgents but the good voter turnout has proved that the people have chosen democracy. There also have been several instances where the church was involved in state politics. The state also never had a woman as an elected representative in the assembly which might change this year as five women had contested.
Elections were held in 59 seats as ex-chief minister Neiphiu Rio and leader of NDPP was elected uncontested after his only rival withdrew from the Northern Angami II seat. The NDPP has contested in 40 seats while its ally BJP had contested in 20. the Congress, which has given three CMs to the state assembly has fielded candidates in only 18 seats.
As per current trends (as on 12:31 PM), the BJP-NDPP alliance is leading in 21 seats while the NPF is leading in 16 seats. While the BJP has a formal alliance with NDPP, the party has maintained that they have kept the options of post-poll alliances open too. So as the elections results emerge we may see changing equations and fresh dynamics in the state political scene. Pre-poll surveys have predicted a BJP-NDPP win in Nagaland.
