Exit polls predict BJP win in Nagaland

A tenuous ceasefire prevails in the state for more than a decade now as peace talks are continuing with NSCN (IM) and other groups and the central government.

Exit polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance government is all set to retain power in Nagaland.

The Matrize Exit Polls results have predicted a sweeping win for BJP in Nagaland Assembly Elections with the saffron party securing 35-43 seats, NFP 2-5, NNP 0-1, Congress 1-3 and other 6-11 seats, respectively.

According to India Today-My Axis India, the NDPP-BJP alliance will retain Nagaland with 28-34 and 10-14 seats respectively. On the other hand, NPF to get 3-8, Congress 1-2, and others 5-15 seats.

BJP+NDPP alliance will bag 39-39 seats in Nagaland, NPF will get 4-8 seats, Congress will get 0 seats in Nagaland, according to TimesNow-ETG.

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 ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP are contesting the polls on a 40:20 seat-sharing basis. The Congress, which ruled the state till 2003 and does not have any member in the current House, has fielded 23 aspirants.

The NDPP-BJP combine is seeking a mandate for the second term, with Neiphiu Rio as the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance. The NPF, which won 26 seats in the last assembly polls, has fielded candidates in 22 seats, but one of them withdrew, leaving 21 in the fray.

Nineteen nominees are contesting as Independents. The electors include 6,47,523 male and 6,49,876 female voters, who are eligible to exercise their franchise in 2,291 polling stations.

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'.

A tenuous ceasefire prevails in the state for more than a decade now as peace talks are continuing with NSCN (IM) and other groups and the central government.