Nagaland heading for another government without Opposition

way2barak, March 7 : Nagaland is heading for another opposition-less government. Almost all political parties in the northeastern state expressed their willingness to support the NDPP-BJP alliance government, which is likely to assume office on today.

Earlier, in April last year, an Opposition-less United Democratic Alliance (UDA) government was formed to expedite the Naga political dialogue with the Central government.

A senior BJP leader told that in Nagaland, no party was keen to remain in opposition, and each of them wanted to remain with the government for various reasons, including the development of all areas.

“Till now, only Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) in writing has submitted a letter supporting the NDPP-BJP alliance government. No other party has so far provided any letter of support to the alliance government even as they have verbally expressed their willingness to support the government,” the BJP leader said.

He said that the central leaders of the BJP and the top leaders of NDPP along with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would decide whether the government would take any support from all other parties after they submit their letters of support.

The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained power in Nagaland for a second straight term by winning 37 seats together in the 60-member Assembly.

In the February 27 elections, the results of which were declared on March 2, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured six seats; National People’s Party led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma managed five seats; Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan), Naga People’s Front and Republican Party of India (Ramdas Athawale) bagged two seats each; Janata Dal (United) bagged one seat; while four seats were won by Independent candidates.

As many as 12 political parties had fielded 183 candidates, including four women nominees in the recent assembly polls.

The Congress, which governed the state for many years till 2003, had contested 23 seats but drew a blank once again. The grand old party had no legislator in the outgoing Assembly.

Nagaland Congress president Kewekhape Therie lost in Dimapur against BJP’s H. Tovihoto Ayemi by a margin of 6,959 votes.

Leaders of NCP, NPP and NPF separately said that they would support the NDPP-BJP coalition government after discussing within their parties they would submit letters of support to the Governor.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda in Delhi on Sunday and discussed the government formation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several central BJP leaders and ministers are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.