3 NE states brace for polls

The three hill states of Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya are now in poll mode with the dates being declared on Thursday. The contest is a clear one between old entrenched political forces and challengers BJP as the saffron outfit readies to carve at least a niche for itself in a political terrain that still remains unchartered for it.

Tripura presents an ideologically charged political contest where the CPM-led Manik Sarkar government which has been in power in Tripura since 1978 except a break between 1988 and 1993 will face the prime ideological opponent BJP, latter's chief Amit Shah having already declared that a change of guard in the state was imminent. Sarkar government is also faced with several corruption charges.

Currently in the 60-member Assembly, the CPM has a whopping 50 seats while the Congress had three and the BJP has seven as for first time BJP marked its first presence in Tripura Assembly after six former Trinamool Congress legislators joined the party. The PM would be addressing two rallies in the state on January 31 as the party hopes to capture over 35 seats in the polls.

Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, the BJP is trying to topple a Congress government which would further shrink the Grand Old party from the political map of India after a series of defeats last year. The Congress, on its part, has been beleaguered owing to desertions from its ranks of MLAs just before the polls. 2018 opened for the Congress on a rather sour note as the BJP weaned away senior Meghalaya Congress leader and former state cabinet minister A L Hek, along with one NCP MLA and two independents.

This further aggravated the fragile political situation created earlier for the Congress after eight MLAs, including five of its own, had resigned from the state assembly and joined NDA constituent National People's Party (NPP), led by Conrad K Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, on January 4. Though the NPP had only two MLAs, the NDA technically now has 13 MLAs and BJP three, in just a matter of weeks.

However, the Naga People's Front (NPF) is a regional political party in Nagaland and Manipur, India. It headed the Nagaland government with the Bharatiya Janata Party, as part of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland since 2003. Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu is the president of the party.[3] The main leader of the NPF, Neiphiu Rio, is the Lok Sabha member from the lone constituency of Nagaland. On March 22, 2004 the NPF absorbed the Nagaland Democratic Party.

The model code of conduct came into effect in Meghalaya and Tripura from Thursday. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura all have 60 seats each. Election for the three states will happen in two rounds. Tripura will vote on February 18, which is a Sunday while Meghalaya and Nagaland will vote on February 27 which is a Tuesday.

The last date of filing nomination for Tripura polls is January 31, following which scrutiny will take place on February 1. The last date of withdrawal of nomination is February 3. Coming to Meghalaya election polls, the last date of filing nomination is February 7, after which scrutiny will take place on February 8. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is February 12. In Nagaland, the last date of filing nomination is February 7, and scrutiny will take place on February 8. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is Feb 12.

The counting for all three states will be held on March 3.The term of the Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura legislative assemblies is ending on March 6, March 13 and March 14, respectively.

Vote schedule

• Election for the three states will happen in two rounds. Tripura will vote on February 18, which is a Sunday while Meghalaya and Nagaland will vote on February 27 which is a Tuesday. 
• The last date of filing nomination for Tripura polls is January 31, following which scrutiny will take place on February 1.
• In Meghalaya and Nagaland,  the last date of filing nomination is February 7.