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Hung assemblies in Nagaland and Meghalaya hold out hopes for a BJP on the upswing

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BJP Worker in Nagaland, Meghalaya

Having swept Tripura, the BJP had made significant gains in Nagaland and Meghalaya, the other two states where assembly elections were held last month (February). Although the BJP with its alliance partner was evenly balanced with its rival in Nagaland, a hung assembly in Meghalaya as well has offered it a chance to be a player in that state as well.

NAGALAND

The BJP- National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) alliance is looking at possibility of forming government in Nagaland. In the typically curious political scenario of the state, the outgoing ruling party Naga People’s Front (NPF) is also not averse to allying one again with BJP, though.

Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav had landed in Nagaland’s Dimapur, where he was holding meetings at the airport, according to media reports.

The NPF and NDPP appeared to be locked in a close battle for power in the 60-member Assembly. According to the Election Commission website at 6 pm, the NPF was ahead in 26 seats, the BJP in 11 and the NDPP in 15.

Ahead of this year’s elections, the BJP had parted ways with ally NPF choosing to partner with NPF leader and chief minister TR Zeliang’s arch rival and also his former party colleague Neiphiu Rio, who set up a new party in the NDPP. Neiphiu Rio was named the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate.

As results came in today, Zeliang offered to renew ties with BJP. “Election is election. Sometimes we get unexpected results. But we are confident we will get majority along with our allies. We are continuing our alliance (with the BJP), we have not parted at any point of time. I have two ministers in my cabinet from the BJP. Some leaders of the BJP are in touch with us. Don’t know if NDPP will come back.”

“We welcome the BJP if they want to be part of the government,” Zeliang added, claiming that his party is in touch with BJP north east strategists Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kiren Rijiju.

Neiphiu Rio dismissed Zeliang’s claims. “I find it amusing. The NPF had criticised the BJP over the issue of Naga traditions, etc. The BJP will have to decide who their real friends are,” he said.

The NPF concentrated on a regional identity in this election, presenting itself as champions of Nagas. It blamed Rio for creating a situation of instability in the state by forging alliances with the Centre. Meanwhile, the NDPP-BJP alliance tried to take on the role of opposition, calling Zeliang ‘a weak leader’, spearheading the campaign with the slogan “Change is Coming”.

The 2018 Nagaland Assembly elections also gave rise to a debate on the influence of BJP in a Christian-majority state, with the Nagaland Baptist Church Council taking a stance against the party.

The assembly elections held in Nagaland on February 27 witnessed a voter turnout of nearly 75 per cent, reflecting a plunge from the previous 90 per cent in the 2013 assembly elections. Polling was held in 59 of the 60 seats as former chief minister and National Democratic Progressive Party president Neiphiu Rio was elected unopposed from Northern Angami-II A/C after rival Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate withdrew from the contest.

The NDPP, led by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio had contested 40 seats, while the BJP contested the other 20. Rio’s party is leading in 22 seats, while the BJP is ahead in eight, a gain of seven. The party had won only one seat in 2013.

NPF fielded candidates in 59 seats with the incumbent CM TR Zeliang leading the charge. The party enjoys the support of the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Janata Dal (United). Zeliang had earlier met Governor PB Acharya and submitted a letter of support from the two parties for forming the next government. The letter is crucial in case of a fractured mandate as according to an NPF leader “it was important to communicate to the Governor that NPF also has an alliance” when he decides who to invite first to form the government.

The NPF contested in alliance with NPP, which fielded as many as 25 candidates in its first ballot in the state. The JD(U), which chose to stay away from the alliance initially, fielded 13 candidates. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has for the first time fielded three candidates this year.

The Congress has drawn a blank. The state party president Kewe Khape Therie hit out at CP Joshi for the “lost opportunity” to optimise the ground situation where the “Christian community were all out against the BJP and in favour of Congress ideologies and principles”. Therie alleged that Joshi, who has been the AICC general secretary-in-charge of the Northeast for two-and-a-half years, visited Nagaland only once, and also stopped Congress president Rahul Gandhi from visiting the state.

MEGHALAYA

In Meghalaya, the third north eastern state where elections were held in this round, a hung assembly means the BJP is in with a chance at forming government by tying up with regional parties.

The Congress in Meghalaya was leading in 21 seats, 10 short of the 31 seats needed to form a government.

The BJP, although with only two seats on its own, can stitch up a post-poll alliance together with the National People’s Party (NPP), an NDA ally that contested separately.

Congress is trying to avoid a Goa and Manipur kind of situation where it failed to form a government despite getting the most seats.

While the Congress has dispatched senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath to Shillong, the BJP, with a lead in only 2 states, has deputed Himanta Biswa Sarma to help cobble together an alliance government.

For the BJP, its negotiations will be aimed at establishing a non-Congress government with the help of regional allies like the NPP and the ‘Others’ – UDP, HSPDP and the GNC. In what is touted to be a ‘rare move’, the UDP, HSPDP, and the GNC stitched a pre-poll alliance, with the sole aim to rout the Congress from power.

The National People’s Party (NPP) has emerged as the second largest party with 19 seats. The third largest gainer in the state is surprisingly the category branded as ‘Others’, which consists of smaller regional parties like the United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic (HSPDP), the Garo National Council (GNC), the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), and the Independents. Currently, this group is leading in close to 17 seats, in a 60-seat Assembly.

What united the three blocs – NPP, BJP and the ‘Others’ – is their aim to establish a non-Congress government. In comparison, the Congress’ only possible ally, the NCP has won only 1 seat, giving the anti-Congress faction a clear advantage.

Patricia Mukhim, editor of Shillong Times told news portal The Quint that the regional parties hold the baton to form the next government. “Regional parties across the country have always allied with the party in power at the Centre. So we could be looking at a BJP alliance led by the regional parties in Meghalaya,” she reportedly told The Quint, adding, however, that coalition governments in the state have always been unstable, with the smaller parties demanding ministerial berths.

The BJP in-charge for Meghalaya Nalin Kohi said that the vote was basically against the Congress and BJP leaders will now look to form a post-poll alliance with the regional parties to form government, according to media reports.

BJP leader and minister of state (home affairs) Kiren Rijiju said that the BJP, UDP and NPP will together form the government in Meghalaya.

NPP is an ally of the BJP at the Centre, Rajasthan and Manipur, but fought the elections in Meghalaya on its own.

Congress may like to try the remote chance of winning it over by wooing its leader Conrad Sangma, ambitious son of former Congress leader Purno Sangma.

The BJP is not likely to let him go, however. If NPP goes, BJP’s government in neighbouring Manipur would also be in trouble since it is dependent for its survival on four NPP MLAs of whom three are ministers.

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PM Modi says Congress badly exposed after Kharge’s comments on election promises

“Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!” the Prime Minister said.

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Reacting apparently to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment on poll promises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the grand old party, saying they are badly exposed in front of the people.

In Karnataka, Congress is busier in intra-party politics and loot instead of even bothering to deliver on development, the Prime Minister said in a post on X. “Not only that, they are also going to roll back existing schemes,” he claimed.

The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible, Modi said. “Campaign after campaign they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!” the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, Kharge made the guarantees remark while pulling up Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his statement that the state government would review the ‘Shakti’ guarantee.

“If we do not go as per the budget, we will go bankrupt and there will be no money to even develop roads. If this government fails, there will be nothing left to pass on to the next generation (of Congress leaders) except for the bad name and the latter has to bear the brunt for another 10 years,” he said while interacting with reporters.

However, Shivakumar on Friday said his statement on the ‘Shakti scheme’ was distorted and presented as if the Congress government in the state wanted to withdraw it.

“Check any state where the Congress has Governments today – Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana- the developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse. Their so-called Guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these states,” PM Modi said.

The victims of such politics are the poor, youngsters, farmers and women, who are not only denied the benefits of these promises but also see their existing schemes diluted, he added.

“The people of the country will have to be vigilant against the Congress sponsored culture of fake promises! We saw recently how the people of Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a Government that is stable, progress oriented and action driven. There is a growing realisation across India that a vote for Congress is a vote for non-governance, poor economics and unparalleled loot. The people of India want development and progress, not the same old,” said PM Modi.

In Himachal Pradesh, salaries of Government workers are not paid on time, PM Modi claimed. The Prime Minister said, in Telangana, farmers are waiting for the waiver they promised.

Previously, in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Congress promised certain allowances which were never implemented for five years, he said. The Prime Minister said there are numerous such examples of how the Congress works.

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Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah attends BJP leader Devender Rana’s last rites

Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday paid the last rites of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana. Abdullah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Ahmed Rana, and Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi.

The 59-year-old Rana, BJP MLA from Nagrota and brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Haryana’s Faridabad.

Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.

“The terrible news from late last night isn’t really sinking in. I know the last few years have been marked by our differences Devender but I prefer to focus on the fun times we shared together, the excellent work we did together & the memories. You have been taken from us all too soon & will be missed. May your soul rest in peace now DSR. My heart goes out to your family as I struggle to find the words to convey my condolences to them,” the Chief Minister posted on X.

Apart from Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those who attended the last rites of Rana.

On his demise, the National Conference party said: “JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President & Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Devender Rana, MLA Nagrota. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters, acknowledging his dedicated service and contributions to the people of J&K. The JKNC leadership and party members stand in solidarity with his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Rana and said he was a veteran leader who worked diligently towards Jammu and Kashmir’s progress.

“Shri Devender Singh Rana Ji’s untimely demise is shocking. He had just won the Assembly polls and had also played a noteworthy role in making the BJP stronger in J&K. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said on X.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Rana, who was always dedicated to the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir and the interests of the people, made an invaluable contribution to the progress of the region. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP family, he added.

BJP chief JP Nadda also paid tribute to the party leader and said: “His dedication to public service and contributions towards the development of the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be remembered. His departure is an irreparable loss to the party”.

Rana’s elder brother and Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X, “Untimely demise of my brother Sh Devender Singh Rana is a deep personal loss, which is not only irreparable but painful and the void created will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. I sincerely thank all those standing by me and the family in these testing times”.

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After India-China disengagement, Indian troops start patrolling Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that he interacted with Chinese soldiers at Bumla Pass during Diwali celebration with Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.

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Two days after the disengagement between India and China, Indian troops started patrolling the Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh on Friday.

On Wednesday, both countries agreed to disengage and initiate coordinated patrols based on their understanding of the Line of Actual Control in the Demchok and Depsang sectors.

Patrolling by Indian troops in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh kicked off Friday. Patrolling in the Depsang sector is expected to start soon, according to ANI. Coordinated patrolling means that both sides will be aware of each other’s patrol schedules.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that he interacted with Chinese soldiers at Bumla Pass during the Diwali celebration with Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.

Sharing a video of him interacting with the Chinese soldiers on X, Rijiju said: “After talking to Chinese soldiers and seeing the infrastructures, everyone will feel proud of India’s border development now.”

The Union Minister said he also celebrated Diwali at the Army Helipad in Tawang. “It felt proud to celebrate Diwali with brave soldiers. Our country is safe only because of their dedication and courage. Jai Hind!” the senior BJP leader said.

On Thursday, soldiers from India and China shared sweets at various border locations in the Ladakh sector to celebrate Diwali. The exchange occurred at Hot Springs, Karakoram Pass, Daulat Beg Oldi, KongkLa, and the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point.

Additionally, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi emphasised that rebuilding trust along the LAC would be a gradual process, aiming to revert to the status quo of April 2020. He detailed that key measures—disengagement, de-escalation, and buffer zone management—are vital for alleviating tensions between the two nations. He also noted that this process would occur in phases, with each stage focusing on diminishing hostilities.

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong remarked that differences between neighboring countries like India and China are natural, but the critical aspect lies in how these differences are managed and resolved.

The border standoff began in eastern Ladakh in 2020 due to Chinese military actions and has led to prolonged tensions that have significantly affected relations between the two countries.

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