Mizoram poll results 2023: Prerogative of MNF to stay in NDA or move on, says BJP’s Nalin Kohli

BJP has always respected the regional sentiments, said Nalin Kohli

With trends indicating about the formation of a new government under the ZPM in Mizoram by ousting the MNF, the BJP today said that it is the prerogative of the MNF to decide on whether to stay with the NDA or get away.

BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli speaking to Northeast Live said this when he was asked if his party would back the ZPM if the regional party expresses its desire.

In his response, the BJP leader maintained that his party has always respected the regional sentiments and has only focused on the sole agenda of development. However, Nalin Kohli left it on the party’s central leadership to decide on this and affirmed that BJP has never left its partners.

Kohli said, “That is something I can’t answer, that will come up before the Parliamentary Board, the view of our important leaders from Northeast like Himanta Biswa Sarma and others will matter. The Parliamentary Board includes PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah BJP president JP Nadda and other senior leaders.

First of all we recognize the regional identity and we respect it. That respect for the regional dynamics of Northeast, whether that is from any tribe, each one of them is beautiful in its own way. That’s something we respect. Second is the focus on development, the government wishes to bring a state into the national mainstream. PM Modi does not distinguish between a BJP and a non-BJP government. It is for them to decide.

With regard to the MNF we have not moved away from the MNF, the MNF chose it before the election made certain statement speaking about not being part of NDA. That is what Zoramthanga has for himself made a statement. If one looks at BJP’s history we have never left our partners if partners decide to move out or move on that is their prerogative, but we have never left our partners.”

When asked if the trends were on expected lines, Nalin Kohli said, “We have to wait for the results but what seems to be the indication coming from Mizoram through the campaigning period and also in terms of the exit polls the ZPM was expected to do well. The ZPM has been a big part as the MNF working for a long time in that area and they’ve had a political presence but never been able to get the size of a number of seats to propel them into the zone of government formation or lead a government.

That the exit polls is indicating of this election that ZPM should be in the pole position, may get the simple majority itself or may be finally close to that. However, what we need to bear in mind is that the margin in small constituencies of Mizoram and some other states is very very narrow. It can sometimes come into the counting of the last 10 votes also. The margin normally can be 100 or 200 because they are smaller constituencies. So I would hold my horses in terms of initial trends because eventually these can udner go a dramatic change.

As far as the BJP is concerned, our stake or presence in Mizoram has been limited but we are happy with the fact that the BJP has found a presence in Mizoram in the last election, in the district council. We have been increasing our vote share gradually.”

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