Amidst setbacks faced by the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a unified forum of non-Congress parties in the Northeast, its prominent member, the BJP, is now emphasizing strategic seat adjustments to present a united front in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
In Meghalaya, the BJP has coordinated seat adjustments with the National People’s Party (NPP), allocating two seats to its ally in Tura and Shillong. Similarly, in Assam, out of the 14 seats, the BJP is contesting 11, while its partners AGP and UPPL are contesting two and one seat respectively.
Political analysts suggest that this move by the BJP aims to demonstrate its commitment to collaborating with regional parties, thus fostering the aspirations of the region. However, not all regional parties align with the saffron brigade. For example, the Mizo National Front, a key member of NEDA, is contesting elections in Mizoram, where the BJP has also fielded candidates. Similarly, the BJP faces opposition from the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha in Sikkim.
This departure from the 2019 elections, where the BJP and its allies refrained from seat-sharing arrangements outside Assam, showcases a strategic shift in their approach.
Moreover, the BJP has opted not to contest the Outer Manipur seat in Manipur, extending support to the Naga People’s Front (NPF) instead. Similarly, it has abstained from Nagaland, where the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is contesting. Solidarity among NDA constituents is evident, with the NPP refraining from fielding any candidate in Arunachal Pradesh and extending support to BJP candidates.
The first phase of elections on April 19 will witness 15 seats up for polls, including five in Assam, two each in Manipur, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, and one seat each in Nagaland, Sikkim, Mizoram, and Tripura.
