The maiden alliance of the Left and the Congress failed to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party from returning to power for the second consecutive term in Tripura even as the debutant, the Tipra Motha, posted an impressive performance. In Nagaland, the NDPP-BJP alliance retained power winning 37 seats in the 60-member house while the assembly elections threw a hung house in Meghalaya.
TRIPURA
In Tripura, the BJP won 32 seats in the 60-member assembly while its ally the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) bagged one. The saffron party, however, suffered a setback after its most prominent tribal face and Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma to his TIPRA Motha rival Subodh Deb Barma.
The combined tally for the opposition alliance was 14 while the CPI(M) had won 16 seats in 2018 when it had fought on its own. The Congress, which had failed to open its account in the 2018 elections, bagged three seats this time. The Tipra Motha, formed by former scion of the state's princely family Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, bagged 13 seats.
The Trinamool Congress performed poorly winning none of the 28 seats it contested. Its vote share (0.88 per cent) came to less than that of those who stamped None-Of-The-Above (NOTA).
“The BJP's victory was expected. We were eagerly waiting for it. Our responsibility has been increased with the decisive mandate,” outgoing Chief Minister Manik Saha said.
Stressing that the BJP would seek to maintain peace and tranquility in the state, Saha said the party had carefully drafted its strategy to win the elections. "Next, we will have a brainstorming session, where leaders would discuss about the assembly poll performance, and what else could be done to strengthen the party further," the CM said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah thanked the people for voting for progress and stability, while the CPI(M) Politburo said the Left Front will work with renewed commitment and energy to defend the interests of the people.
NAGALAND
In Nagaland, the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-BJP alliance crossed the majority mark by winning 37 seats in the 60-member house. The NDPP won 25 seats while its alliance partner got 12 seats. The NDPP-BJP had fought the elections on 40:20 seat sharing arrangement.
The NCP and the National People's Party won seven and five seats respectively. While the LJP (Ram Vilas), RPI (Athawale) and the NPF equally shared six constituencies, the JD(U) got one seat. Independent candidates bagged four seats. The Congress failed to win even a single seat.
"Congratulations to all the winning candidates of the Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023. As we have assured the electorates, let us pursue with sincerity to fulfill our goals and vision. May God Almighty help us," tweeted NDPP chief and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
The state also scripted history in this election by electing the first women legislators in its 60 years' history. The two women lawmakers - Hekhani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) - are greenhorns in politics but defeated the sitting MLAs in Western Angami and Dimapur-III seats respectively.
MEGHALAYA
In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's National People's Party became the single largest party though the the assembly elections threw a hung verdict. NPP won 26 seats while the BJP bagged two. Despite being in an alliance government for the last five years, the NPP and the BJP contested the assembly elections separately.
BJP president Ernest Mawrie said his party will submit a letter of support to the NPP to form the next government in the state.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged 11 constituencies, while the Congress won five seats. The Voice of the People Party (VPP) and the Trinamool Congress won four seats each, while the Mamata Banerjee-led party was ahead in one constituency.
The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP), the People's Democratic Front and the BJP won two seats each, while the saffron party was leading in one constituency. Two Independent candidates also emerged victorious.