EC may announce dates for Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland polls
The poll season is upon us again. The Election Commission of India will probably announce the polling schedule for assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland today. Reportedly, the three north-eastern state will go to polls in February. It will perhaps be conducted in a single phase. The 60-seat Assemblies expire on March 6, March 13, and March 14, respectively. Here's all about it.
In left-ruling Tripura, BJP calls for a regime change
So, what is Tripura's situation? There, BJP is going all-out to break left's monopoly. Tripura is being ruled by CPI(M)'s Manik Sarkar for the past 25yrs. BJP has seven MLAs. But, in recent months several lawmakers have defected to BJP, including six TMC MLAs. While BJP accuses Sarkar of non-development and corruption, he slammed them for ethnic and communal polarization in the state.
Congress faces anti-incumbency in Meghalaya
Meghalaya's elections will be a three-way fight: Congress will fight to retain its hold, BJP to seize power and regional parties like United Democratic Party (UDP) and Garo National Council (GNC) to harp on local issues. BJP-president Amit Shah earlier blamed Congress's Mukul Sangma government of pushing the state behind in terms of development. Here, the poll issues will probably be environment and economy.
Nagas demand that elections be held after resolving conflict
Meanwhile, in Nagaland, Naga civil-society groups have asked the Centre to defer polls until a solution is found for the state's insurgency. The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has waged a decades-long insurgency, demanding a Greater Nagalim. Here, the Naga People's Front-led Democratic Alliance is the ruling party. BJP is part of this alliance.
What do these elections mean for Congress and BJP?
But, what does this poll bugle mean for BJP and Congress? BJP is aiming to wrest power in all 8 north-eastern states. Presently, it is in power in 5 states, with majority governments in Assam and Manipur. In Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, it is in a coalition government with regional parties. Conversely, Congress might want to retain Meghalaya, where it faces dissidence.
