BJP credits PM Modi's Act East’ policy for Nagaland win

The NDPP-BJP alliance bagged 37 seats in the 60-member Nagaland assembly, securing a straight second term in office in the state.

The BJP on Friday credited the win of its alliance in Nagaland to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Act East' policy and the party's campaign focus on peace and development in the northeastern state.

BJP's in-charge for Nagaland Nalin Kohli, who is also a national spokesperson of the party, said, "The voters of Nagaland have rewarded the party for its positive agenda and the good work done by the double-engine government of PM Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Rio in the state." He noted that Modi has visited the northeastern region 51 times in his tenure, and ministers from his government have been there more than 400 times. This has ensured that infrastructure projects and various schemes are implemented effectively and on time, Kohli added.

"The BJP's success in the northeast is directly linked to Prime Minister Modi's 'Act East' policy and the positive agenda of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas. In Nagaland, the campaign focus was on peace and development," he said.

The NDPP-BJP alliance bagged 37 seats in the 60-member Nagaland assembly, securing a straight second term in office in the state.

Prime Minister Modi, too, in his post-result comments pointed out, "Minorities were made fearful about BJP for years but people of Goa and now from northeast have exposed the propaganda." RIO, NAGALAND'S REAL WINNER In Nagaland, the real victor was the state's political stalwart and NDPP supremo Neiphiu Rio who is set to assume office as chief minister for a fifth term after registering a convincing win for his party and its ally, the BJP.

The septuagenarian leader has, with this victory, broken the record of veteran leader S C Jamir, who helmed the northeastern state thrice.

Last time round the alliance won 30 seats - 18 by the regional party and 12 by the saffron party and formed the government with the support of two NPP MLAs, one from JD(U) and an Independent MLA, ending the 15-year reign of NPF in the state.

Talking to reporters, Rio said, "Let us pursue with sincerity the objective of fulfilling our goals and visions for the state." FIRST WOMEN LEGISLATORS History was scripted in Nagaland on Thursday in a different manner when the state elected its first women legislators in its 60 years of statehood.

The two women lawmakers - Hekhani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) - are greenhorns in politics but defeated the sitting MLAs in Western Angami and Dimapur-III seats respectively.

By virtue of the result of her constituency being declared earlier in the day, Jakhalu became the first woman MLA in the Nagaland Assembly.