Ajit Karn
Kohima: Despite having one of the highest numbers of political parties, the new government of Nagaland will likely have no opposition, as almost all parties have pledged unconditional support to the NDPP-BJP alliance that won the month-long election.
In the state Assembly elections, the results of which were announced on March 2, the pre-election alliance partners NDPP and BJP won 25 and 12 seats, respectively, for a total of 37 seats in the 60-member Legislature.
Other political parties, including the NCP, have won seven seats, the NPP five, the LJP (Ram Vilas), the Naga People’s Front (NPF), and the RPI (Athawale) two each, the JD(U) one, and the Independents four. This is the first time in Nagaland’s history that so many political parties have won seats in the state Assembly elections. LJP(RV) and RPI (Athawale) are State politics rookies.
While the NDPP-BJP has yet to stake a claim for government formation, other political parties have given them unconditional support to resume their second innings.
LJP (Ram Vilas), RPI (Athawale), and JD(U) have already submitted support letters to alliance partners, according to sources.
The NCP, the third largest party, submitted a letter extending ‘unconditional’ support to the Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP on Saturday, a newly elected NCP MLA told PTI on Sunday.
Similarly, NPF general secretary Achumbemo Kikon, who is also one of the newly elected MLAs, stated that while a definitive decision has not been made, the two-member party is “likely to extend support to the government.”
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With the support of all political parties for the victorious NDPP-BJP coalition, Nagaland will again have a multiparty government.
In the past, in 2015 and 2021, opposition-free governments were founded during the tenure of an incumbent government. However, this Assembly would be the first ever to be opposition-free prior to the House’s inauguration.
