Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland poll results: BJP romps to power
Vote-counting in the North-Eastern states Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland was held today. In Tripura, BJP ousted CPI(M) with a considerable margin, winning 44 seats; Congress faced a rout. In Meghalaya, with 21 seats, Congress is scampering to form a post-poll alliance to form a government. Close competitor NPP isn't far with 19 seats. In Nagaland, both BJP-NDPP and NPF+ are tied at 29 seats.
In Tripura's ideological clash, saffron (BJP) dethrones red (Left-Front)
Exit polls proved correct as BJP dethroned the 25yrs-Left government headed by "India's Poorest CM" Manik Sarkar. In 2013, BJP hadn't even opened its account and with a full-blown victory, more-than-enough to form a government, it has proved naysayers wrong. Thus, one of India's longest serving CM, CPI(M)'s Manik Sarkar will make way for one of BJP's Tripura win "master-mind" Biplab Kumar Deb.
After Meghalaya's hung assembly, parties scramble to form alliances
Though Congress has a narrow advantage in Meghalaya, the real winner is late LS-speaker PA Sangma's NPP. In 2013, it managed only 2 seats, but this year it comes of age with 19. UDP, with 8 seats, and 9 independents could play kingmakers. For BJP, Meghalaya remains unconquered. Congress rushed Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel to discuss alliances, while BJP sent Himanta Sarma.
Nagaland witnesses a BJP-NDPP and NPF+ tie
Nagaland, grappling with a long-drawn insurgency demanding autonomy, witnessed immense political turmoil recently. Here, BJP-NDPP and NPF+ are tied with 29 seats each. NPF has been in power since 2003, except for a brief 8-month president's rule in 2008. Now, the alliance which manages to woo the two independents will get a shot at CM-ship. The grand old party, like in Tripura, remains at zero.
What does this indicate?
BJP's full-blown victory in Tripura and Nagaland from nothingness can be attributed to many factors: fierce campaigning and micro-management. Also, BJP being in power at the Centre worked as an advantage. In an embarrassment to CPI(M), CM Manik Sarkar failed to defend the Left citadel and give BJP its "waterloo" moment. Moreover, now BJP can comfortably refer to itself as a pan-India party.
