Why the Nagaland assembly is set to be opposition free for the first time

One interesting fact about the elections in Nagaland is that in the year 1964, no national level, state level or registered party contested the elections. Elections were contested by 73 independent candidates

Nagaland does have a lot of political parties, but it is soon inching towards an opposition less assembly as almost all parties have extended support to the NDPP_BJP alliance which won the elections.

The NDPP and BJP won 25 and 12 of the 60 seats respectively. With this the the two parties have 37 MLAs in the house where the magic mark is 31.

The NCP won 7 seats, the NPP, 5, LJP (Ram Vilas), Naga People's Front and RPI (Athawale), 2 each, JD(U), 1 and independents, 4.

While the NDPP and BJP are yet to stake a claim to form the government, they have received unconditional support from a lot of political parties as they get ready to begin another innings in Nagaland.

LJD (Ram Vilas) and RPI (Athawale) have already submitted letters of support to the NDPP-BJP. The NCP which is the third single largest party has supported an unconditional letter of support to the NDPP, the party's MLA Y Mhonbemo Humtsoe told PTI.

The general secretary of the NPF, Achumbemo Kiko who is a newly elected MLA said that although a final decision is yet to be taken, the party's two members are likely to extend support to the government.

With all these parties set to extend support, the NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland will have another all-party government.

In 2015 and 2021, opposition-less governments had been formed during the ongoing term of the government. However this would be the first ever Assembly which will be opposition-less, even before the MLAs have been sworn-in on the floor of the House.

In another first, Hekani Jakhalu Kense and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the BJP's alliance partner, National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) became the first two women MLAs to be elected in Nagaland.

In 1977, Nagaland elected Radio Mese Shaiza as its first woman MP for the Lok Sabha. She had contested on a United Democratic Party ticket. In 2022, the BJP nominated Phangnon Konyak as a Rajya Sabha member from Nagaland.

This year the turn out for the Nagaland was also impressive. The state registered a 90 per cent turn over for the first time. If one looks at the trends over the years, the women voters in Nagaland have always been more dominant. The fact that two women were voted for the first time is significant. While the women participation in the elections have always been impressive their representation has been dismal over the years.

Another interesting fact about Nagaland is that in 1964, no national level or state level party or any registered party contested the elections. Only 73 independent candidates contested the elections that year.