PM Modi with Neiphiu Rio at a joint public rally in Nagaland (File)
The BJP-led coalition is set for a landslide victory in Nagaland, suggest early trends as the counting of votes has begun for the February 27 assembly elections. The BJP and its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) are ahead in 49 out of 60 seats, where the majority mark is 31.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) is ahead in six seats and the Congress is leading in just one.
The BJP is a junior partner in the leading coalition, which contested 20 seats, while ally NDPP fought in 40, as per a seat-sharing agreement.
The NDPP, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, has been in an alliance with the BJP since the last elections in 2018. The alliance had won 30 seats in the previous elections while NPF won 26.
The Congress, which ruled the state till 2003 but does not have any member in the current House, and NPF contested in 23 and 22 seats respectively.
Elections to 59 seats were held on February 27 as one seat – Akuluto in Zunheboto district – was won uncontested by BJP nominee and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi.
Notably, there had been no woman MLA in Nagaland though the state has witnessed 14 assembly election since it was formed in 1963. There are four women out of 183 candidates who contested this year’s elections.
Votes are also being counted in Meghalaya and Tripura.
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