Ahead of the Nagaland assembly elections on February 27, the BJP today announced the end of a 15-year old alliance with the NPF. It has instead chosen to contest polls in alliance with the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
The ANI reported that the BJP also released the list of 20 candidates standing for the assembly polls. The NDPP will contest 40 of the 60 assembly seats, and the BJP will field its candidates on 20 seats on February 27. Kiren Rijiju, BJP leader and in-charge for Nagaland announced parting ways with its long-time ally – the Naga Peoples Front (NPF). He said-
“We tried to have an alliance with NPF but couldn’t come to conclusion on seat sharing arrangement. So we have formally entered into an alliance with NDPP. We are very hopeful that our alliance of NDPP and BJP will form the next Nagaland government with an absolute majority,” (as quoted by ANI).
NDPP and BJP announce pre_poll alliance at joint press conference by @KirenRijiju and Neiphiu Rio @rammadhavbjp @PMOIndia @narendramodi #NDPPnagaland#Nagaland pic.twitter.com/rbeFQa1LOy
— NDPP (@NDPPofficial) February 3, 2018
BJP tried to create a pre-poll understanding with the Naga People’s Front (NPF) but couldn’t settle on the issue of seat sharing. The current government is a BJP coalition led by the NPF.
“NPF has been an NDA ally since 2003. But in the past too, despite having an alliance, we never had formal seat sharing. We used to contest assembly elections separately but we had a post-poll alliance. Let me make one thing clear — we are not severing ties with NPF,” he added.
BJP backed out of an 11-party joint boycott declaration of not fielding any member from the party until the Centre intervened in the Naga crisis. The BJP, however, backed out. On the issue of Naga crisis, Rijiju said –
“We are committed to solving the Naga problem. The election will facilitate that. The prime minister has shown his willingness and his understanding of the Naga problem. We must give him the breathing space to enforce what he has envisaged – that the Naga problem must be solved.”
The civil societies in Nagaland are asking for a peace deal before assembly elections. BJP’s announcement of a new political mate comes at the same time. This may be the biggest test obstacle for BJP to get over. The centre and The Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah), a Naga insurgent group, signed a framework agreement in August 2015.
Mr Rijiju remarked- “NDPP and BJP are going to have an absolute majority. So there is no need for speculation”.