The NDPP-BJP pre-poll alliance and their 40/20 seat-sharing deal in view of the next Nagaland state assembly election, which has been all over the news since July 26, is a grand strategy that serves both the parties right.
Many observers were of the opinion that BJP might sever its seat-sharing partnership deal with NDPP but, as expected, the “40/20 formula” remains, at least till now.
Judging by the way BJP has been toiling hard to make inroads into every corner of the state, it may seem like BJP is making a mistake by settling with NDPP to contest in just 20 seats.
However, BJP is not in a hurry and it is wiser on its part to rather consolidate its position as a political party and wait till 2028 than to go headlong into the fray alone in 2023.
Moreover, if BJP can manage to pull off a surprise result by winning all of the 20 seats or anywhere close to it, then there is every likelihood of the party emerging as the single largest party in the 2023 elections. In such a scenario, they can claim the CM’s chair.
Interestingly, such an outcome is not beyond the realm of possibilities and can very much be engineered in Nagaland given the way elections are conducted in this state. Therefore, BJP settling for a 40/20 seat sharing deal with NDPP is not a surprise.
Plus, as long as the BJP is in power in New Delhi, it will not be difficult to execute their game plan in a small state like Nagaland. Their only hitch is the acrimony within their own party fold.
Meanwhile, if the 40/20 seat-sharing deal does work out, then it will be interesting to see how things play out in Mokokchung. BJP won both seats they contested last time in Mokokchung district. Will BJP contest in just the same two constituencies in 2023? Or, will we see more BJP candidates? If yes, in which constituency will it be?