DNA Edit: New challenger

Tripura elections, contrary to the expectations of many, turned out to be a largely incident-free and peaceful affair. One noticeable aspect that stood out in the elections was that after 25 years in power, the Left’s undisputed supremacy in the state seems to be perched precariously. This is a major leap for the BJP in Tripura given that it has managed to present a formidable challenge this poll, a stark contrast from its performance in the last election when the party forfeited its deposit in 49 out of 50 constituencies it contested.

In Nagaland, the BJP has strategically aligned itself to be in power as the two main contesting parties in Nagaland have close ties with the BJP. Going into the Nagaland election, slated for February 27, the BJP has allied itself with CM Neiphu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, while the regional power player Naga People’s Front counts NDA as an ally at the Centre. Essentially, the BJP has its fingers in all the pies. In Meghalaya, it is hoping to secure power by stitching together an alliance — à la Manipur style — of local parties and dethrone the Congress which has been in power since 2009.

BJP’s ally in the state, the National People’s Party might be contesting this poll on its own but the chequerboard of the state politics is laid out in such a manner that anything less than a majority for Congress could open avenues for the BJP to snatch power. Helping the BJP’s cause in the state is the entrenched presence of Sangh cadres in the Northeast. For years, it has been making inroads in these areas that have been administratively sidelined. Additionally, BJP’s National General Secretary Ram Madhav has been astutely laying the groundwork for the party in these elections.