Assembly Elections 2023: Tripura to vote on Feb 16; Meghalaya, Nagaland on Feb 27, results on March 2

The outcome of election result in the northeastern states is crucial for the BJP to shed the image of being an 'anti-Christian party'.

New Delhi, Jan 18: Two-phased polls will take place in Tripura on February 16 and 27, while Meghalaya and Nagaland will go to polls on February 27, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

Addressing the press conference, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that there are as many as 9,125 polling stations in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Key highlights from EC presser

The participation of women voters and their numbers on the electoral rolls are higher than men.

Approximately 10,000 youths who are between 17-18 years of age have registered from the three states, combined, have sent us applications.

Schedule for GE to the Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya, Nagaland & Tripura.#AssemblyElections2023 #ECI pic.twitter.com/nZLJtADBMz

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) January 18, 2023

There are more than 62.8 lakh electors combined in Nagaland, Meghalaya & Tripura including - 31.47 lakh female electors, 97,000 80+ voters, and 31,700 PwD voters.

There will be some polling stations managed completely by PwDs & women staff.

The term of Legislative Assemblies of three states - Nagaland, Meghalaya & Tripura are due to expire on March 12, March 15 and March 22, 2023 respectively. Elections are to be scheduled for 60 ACs in each state.

Though, small in size, the four Northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram -which contribute, a total of 6 seats in the Lok Sabha will set the tune of national politics.

Tripura

Tripura To begin with, the saffron party and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) fought the Assembly elections together in 2018 and wrested power from the Left Front.

The BJP-IPFT alliance swept to power in the state in 2018, defeating its arch-rival Communist Party of India (Marxist). The BJP won 35 seats and the IPFT 8.

However, this time, the stakes are for the BJP as the saffron party is facing the heat of anti-incumbency. The authoritarian style of functioning by former Chief Minister Biplab Deb spawned massive rift within the party. Sensing trouble, the BJP high command swung into action by replacing Deb with Manik Saha as the chief minister but the challenges faced by the saffron party have not withered away.

The BJP also faces the challenge from CPI(M), which has found a new strength under its new state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury. The CPI(M) has been running a planned and systematic campaign against the hills against the state's saffron government.

Meanwhile, a resurgent Congress has also been gaining ground, setting an alarm for the BJP as its ascent to power was possible because of the decimation of the grand old party.

Furthermore, BJP ally the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) has nearly zero presence compared to Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma's TIPRA Motha. BJP's tribal wing Janajati Morcha has also lost it's sheen and doesn't look to be in a position to even pose a challenge to Motha in the tribal belt.

Meghalaya

In contrast to Tripura, the BJP has nothing to lose in Meghalaya. In previous years, BJP worked with the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance comprising five parties. This elections, it is fighting alone and has stepped up its attack on the ruling Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party (NPP).

In fillip to the BJP, four MLAs - two from NPP, one from TMC (Trinamool Congress) and an Independent - have joined the saffron party ahead of the elections.

In 2028, the Congress emerged as the single-largest party in the state winning 21 seats,but failed to cobble up a coalition with other regional outfits.

Nagaland

In Nagaland, the BJP-NDPP alliance have a bright chance of forming the next government again. There is no opposition in the hill state after the Naga People's Front (NPF) joined the NDPP last year.

The BJP has decided continue its alliance with the Neiphiu Rio-led National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) this time and agreed to contest 20 seats.

In 2018, the BJP-NDPP alliance stormed to power by bagging a total of 30 seats and formed the government. The saffron party also got support from the sole Independent MLA and the sole Janata Dal (United) MLA.

The outcome of election result in the northeastern states is crucial for the BJP to shed the image of being an 'anti-Christian party'.