Officially beginning its preparation for Assembly polls in Northeastern states, the BJP on Saturday appointed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were on Saturday as election in-charge of Nagaland and Tripura. 

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Announcing the appointment of Rijiju and Sarma, BJP General Secretary Arun Singh said in a statement: "BJP National President Amit Shah has appointed Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State of Home Affairs as Election Incharge of forthcoming Nagaland State Assembly Elections and Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Finance and Health in Assam Government as Election Incharge of Tripura state."

Sarma, who started his political career as a Congress leader, switched side ahead of last year's Assam elections. He is the convenor of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), an alliance of regional parties. 

Rijiju is a heavyweight from Arunachal Pradesh and the two leaders have been instrumental in the BJP's rise in the Northeast. 

Assembly elections in Tripura and Nagaland are slated for early next year. Last elections in both states were held in February 2013.

While Tripura has been under the Left rule for the last 24 years, Nagaland Peoples Front has been in power in Nagaland since 2003. 

Along with Tripura and Nagaland, polls will also be held for Meghalaya and Mizoram next year. 

Launching BJP's poll campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week inaugurated crucial connectivity and power projects in Mizoram and Meghalaya.