BJP set to form government in Nagaland

AGARTALA: The BJP will form the next government in Nagaland with the help of other parties, Union minister and BJP in-charge for the state Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday, indicating 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 nowhere 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.”

The assembly polls have given a fractured mandate. While the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) has won 25 seats, its ally National People’s Party (NPP) and the JD(U) have won three and one seats, respectively. To form government, it will require 31 seats in the house of 60. The BJP won 11 seats and the newly floated NDPP 16. Independent has won one while the Congress failed to open its account.


In 2013, the NPF had won 38 seats, BJP one, and Independents eight while Congress had won eight, JD(U) one and the NCP four.

The BJP had, before the polls, parted ways with the NPF, which was leading the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) since 2003. The BJP contested in 20 seats and its ally NDPP in 40.

A day before counting, the NPF moved Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, declaring that it has a pre-poll agreement with the JD(U) and the NPP. The party has declared that if it gets a majority together with its allies, it will form government.

The NPF has submitted requisite documents to the governor. NPF president, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu, said that they have an agreement that if they are voted to power, TR Zeliang will be the chief minister. NPF leader Sebastian Zumvu said, “Our doors are open for the BJP.”