Lok Sabha election: BJP and allies ready with game plan for grabbing 25 seats in Northeast

What matters most for the BJP is to uphold the principles of alliance and fight the elections together with it's allies so as to ensure a 3rd term for Narendra

Close to the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA seems to be ready with the arrangements keeping in mind about the political dynamics in Northeast. The BJP and its allies- the North East Democratic Alliance-(NEDA) have agreed to the seat sharing plans as well as backing each other’s candidates in certain states is concerned.
To achieve the common goal of grabbing all the 25 seats in Northeast, the BJP and its allies are ready with their game plans.
What matters most for the BJP is to uphold the principles of alliance and fight the elections together with it’s allies so as to ensure a 3rd term for Narendra Modi as the PM and facilitate further growth and development of the nation.
𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗠:
In Assam, the BJP and it’s allies-AGP and UPPL are contesting in all the 14 constituencies. Out of these the BJP is contesting in 11 parliamentary seats, AGP in 2 and the UPPL in 1 seat. The BJP has left the Barpeta and Dhubri seat for the AGP, while both BJP and AGP will back the UPPL candidate in the Kokrajhar seats.
𝗠𝗘𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗔:
In Meghalaya, putting all speculations at rest the BJP which is in alliance with the NPP in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0, has decided to support the NPP candidates in both the Shillong and Tura seats.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra in a social media post confirmed about the development on Friday evening.
The post read, “As per the instructions of the Hon’ble National President of @BJP4India, Shri @JPNadda ji, I am pleased to inform that BJP will extend its support to Lok Sabha Candidates of NPP in both the seats of Meghalaya (Shillong and Tura), to NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency and to NDPP in Nagaland in the ensuing Parliamentary elections 2024.”

As per the instructions of the Hon’ble National President of @BJP4India, Shri @JPNadda ji, I am pleased to inform that BJP will extend its support to Lok Sabha Candidates of NPP in both the seats of Meghalaya (Shillong and Tura),
to NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency and to…

— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) March 22, 2024

But this is a significant decision of the BJP central leadership to extend support the NPP in both the parliamentary seats despite the fact that the Meghalaya BJP had sent a list of 11 ticket aspirants to Delhi.
Worth mentioning, the list of probables for the Shillong seat included names of cabinet minister AL Hek, former Meghalaya BJP president and South Shillong MLA Ernest Mawrie.

On March 15, Meghalaya BJP president Rikman G Momin has said that he was expecting the central leadership to announce the candidates for the two Meghalaya seats in the 3rd list.

As per inputs, the list of probables for the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency included the names of-

1. AL Hek, Cabinet Minister
2. Ernest Mawrie, Former Meghalaya BJP president
3. Mewaker Lyngdoh state president of BJYM
4. Dr Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait
5. Sumitra Laloo
   On the other hand the BJP ticket aspirants for the Tura seat were-
6. Bernard N Marak, Tura MDC
7. Winnerson D Sangma, former MLA
8. Boston Marak
9. Riya Sangma
10. KC Boro
11. Thomas Marak
    

However, Meghalaya BJP president Rikman G Momin had not divulged the names officially.

Thus it can be concluded that, there was no dearth for the BJP to field a candidate in the elections for the Shillong and Tura seats. But despite this, the Saffron Party chosing to stay away from contesting and rather extend support to the NPP assumes quite a lot of significance. The point here is that the BJP’s decision comes at a time when the party is looking to extend it’s footprints in the state.

Rikman G Momin’s response was sought on this significant political development today.

The Meghalaya BJP president said, “I got a call from our central leaders that since NPP is a part and parcel of the NDA government, so naturally we have to be part of that, and that is why we are supporting the NPP as directed by the central leaders. We will abide by the central leadership.”

To take things forward, the Meghalaya BJP leadership huddled with Meghalaya CM and NPP chief Conrad Sangma this afternoon apparently to discuss the future course of action.

BJP delegation is being led by the party ‘s state president Rikman Momin and South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai. But an official statement is still awaited.

𝗔𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗛:
In Arunachal Pradesh, a vice versa arrangement (in terms of Meghalaya) has already been decided. In the frontier state, the BJP is the Big Brother in the alliance with CM Pema Khandu heading the government where NPP is a constituent with 2 MLAs.

From that perspective, the NPP will be extending support to the BJP in both the parliamentary seats in Arunachal Pradesh. Hence, NPP will back Tapir Gao in the Arunachal (East) seat and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Arunachal (West).

𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗥:
In Manipur too, the BJP has decided to extend support to the NPF in the Manipur (Outer) Lok Sabha constituency. Manipur CM N Biren Singh confirmed this on Friday evening in a social media post and maintained that it was done to uphold the principles of the alliance.

The Manipur CM posted, “Following the decision by @BJP4India under the guidance of Shri
@JPNadda ji, and upholding our alliance principles, I am delighted to share that BJP will lend its support to Lok Sabha Candidates of NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in 2024.”

Following the decision by @BJP4India under the guidance of Shri @JPNadda ji, and upholding our alliance principles, I am delighted to share that BJP will lend its support to Lok Sabha Candidates of NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency for the forthcoming Parliamentary elections… https://t.co/9V4BY7esBx

— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) March 22, 2024

But significantly, the BJP is yet to announce its candidate for the Manipur (Inner) seat. If reports are to be believed, incumbent MP and Union MoS MEA RK Ranjan, Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi and Rajya Sabha MP L Sanajaoba are the frontrunners for a ticket from the Manipur (Inner) seat.

The NPF, which is an ally of the BJP government in Manipur, has nominated former Indian Revenue Service officer K Timothy Zimik for the seat.

As of now, the Congress will be fighting from both the seats, while the CPI M will be fighting from the Manipur (Inner) seat.

For the Congress, JNU Professor Bimol Akoijam will be in fray from the Manipur (Inner) seat while Alfred K Arthur is the Congress candidate from the Manipur (Outer) seat.

The CPI has named Laishram Sotinkumar Singh as its candidate from the Manipur (Inner) parliamentary seat.

𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗:
The picture is also clear in Nagaland. The BJP has decided to back the CM Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP in the parliamentary election for the lone seat. BJP leadership made this decision official on Friday evening.
Hence the BJP will be backing NDPP candidate Dr Chumben Murry who is fighting the election as a People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA). The BJP is a key constituent of the NDPP-led PDA in Nagaland.

𝗦𝗜𝗞𝗞𝗜𝗠:
But in Sikkim, the picture is different as the BJP has chosen not to go for an alliance with any party and will be contesting the Assembly as well as the parliamentary election in the state solo.

The elections to the 32-member Sikkim assembly will be held on April 19and BJP will field candidates for all the 32 seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat, state BJP president DR Thapa informed on Saturday.

Thapa told Northeast Live that the Central BJP leadership and state BJP leaders met on Friday in New Delhi, where it decided that the BJP will contest solo in Sikkim elections.

𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗔:
Triprua has two Lok Sabha seats. Tripura East is reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP has fielded candidates in both the Tripura (East) and Tripura (West) Lok Sabha constituencies. The ruling BJP and it’s new partner Tipra Motha has named Kriti Singh Deb Barma, the sister of Tripura royal scion Pradyot Deb Barma, as the candidate for the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency.

On the other hand, the BJP has fielded former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb from the Tripura (West) Lok Sabha constituency.

The BJP this time will certainly have an edge over its opponents especially in the Tripura East seat, since the elections follow the historic signing of the Tiprasa Accord, a long awaited agreement aimed for the upliftment of the indigenous tribal population of the state. Many see it as a BJP’s masterstroke.

𝗠𝗜𝗭𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗠:
Till now the BJP is yet to take call for the lone seat in the state. So far, The ruling Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), which is contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time, has fielded entrepreneur Richard Vanlalhmangaiha.

The MNF has fielded party’s Rajya Sabha member, K. Vanlalvena. The Congress has nominated former police officer and ex-Home Secretary Lalbiakzama as the party’s candidate.

Neither the MNF, nor the ZPM have any political ties with the BJP in Mizoram, though the MNF is a part of the BJP-led NDA at the national level.

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