NE victory a morale booster for BJP

The BJP's winning momentum is important for the saffron party as the crucial state of Karnataka is next headed for assembly polls, expected in May, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram later this year. The ruling BJP notched up a morale-boosting win on its 'Mission Northeast' by retaining Tripura emphatically, despite anti-incumbency and newcomer Tipra Motha playing spoilers. In Meghalaya, it is poised to be part of the ruling dispensation again as a junior partner.

The BJP's ambition of emerging as a bigger player in Meghalaya was thwarted as it was leading in only three seats against the two it held in the outgoing 60-member assembly. The BJP leadership had accused Chief Minister Conrad Sangma-led government of being the country's "most corrupt" state dispensation but the two parties may now agree to do business together again. The BJP was part of his government but parted ways before the polls.

The BJP-led NDA, in power in 16 states, also romped home to a facile win in Nagaland, where Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party is the senior partner. The party rode piggy-back to power in Nagaland on Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP's shoulder. It may be a junior partner in Nagaland and remains a minor player in Meghalaya but the results in the two states will be helpful for the party in making ideological points. 

A quick analysis of the outcome in Tripura shows that the maiden alliance of the Left and the Congress in the distant state and the emergence of TIPRA Motha as a dominant force in tribal seats did not prove enough to topple the BJP from power in the state as the ruling party's development plank and ideological resonance surmounted local factors to deliver it another victory.

Among the three northeastern states that went to assembly polls, Tripura's verdict was the most keenly watched due to the high stakes for three national parties - the BJP, Congress and the Left - and the results underscored the continuity of momentum in the saffron party's favour despite the occasional setbacks it has suffered in state polls. If its 2018 victory was an endorsement of its ideological and development agenda, the win now shows its popular acceptance. The BJP had benefited from popular anger against the Left "misrule" for 25 years in 2018 and it has now received a positive mandate for the Centre and state government's work. 

The BJP, like in so many other state polls, succeeded in making its overarching ideological and developmental planks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popular appeal the central theme of its campaign which was also helped by an organisationally weakened opposition unable to match the ruling party either in firepower or in leadership charisma.

Accused by rivals of being "anti-minority", the BJP has succeeded in improving its vote share to nearly 19 per cent from 15.3 per cent in Nagaland and bagging over nine per cent votes in Meghalaya. Both are largely Christian populated states and its performance will give the BJP a handy weapon to beat back the charge.

On expected lines, Prime Minister Narednra Modi described the BJP's win in Tripura as "a vote for progress and stability", while Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it is a "historic day" for the Northeast. Thanking people of the state, the PM said that the party's government in the state will continue to boost its growth trajectory. "I am proud of all Tripura BJP karyakartas for their spectacular efforts at the grassroots." With the NDPP-BJP alliance set to retain power in Nagaland, Modi thanked people for giving the alliance another mandate to serve the state. "The double engine government will keep working for the state's progress. I laud our party workers for their hard work which ensured this result," he tweeted.

Shah described the party's re-election in Tripura as a "victory of pro-development politics" and thanked the people of Nagaland for choosing "peace and progress". At the Meghalaya polls, the prime minister said, "Grateful to all those who have supported the BJP in the assembly polls." "We will keep working hard to enhance the development trajectory of Meghalaya and focus on empowering the people of the state. I am also thankful to our party workers for the effort they put in," he tweeted.

The home minister too thanked the people of Meghalaya for their support and blessings to the BJP and said the party under Prime Minister Modi will leave no stone unturned in serving the people and creating a bright future for them. In a series of tweets, Shah said, "A historic day for the Northeast. I thank Tripura for placing trust in BJP once again. It is a victory of pro-development politics that the BJP has delivered in Tripura under PM @narendramodi Ji's leadership. Together we will move ahead and build a prosperous Tripura."

The home minister congratulated BJP president J P Nadda, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and state BJP leadership for their tireless efforts in securing the BJP's victory. Thanking the people of Nagaland from the "bottom of my heart" for choosing peace and progress by re-electing the PM Modi-led NDA back in power, Shah said the duo of Modi and state CM Neiphiu Rio will continue to advance peace and development in the state and fulfil people's aspirations.