New Delhi: Peace in the northeast and development work carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in these states are the reasons behind the people’s verdict in favour of the BJP and its allies, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said Thursday.
In an interview with ThePrint soon after results of assembly elections in Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya were declared, Rijiju said his party returned to power in tribal-dominated Tripura as “people in this region saw how sincerely the central government has worked to bring peace in region”.
While violence was the norm (in the region), the Modi government changed that, he said. “This (win) is the result of the izzat (respect) the central government has given to northeastern states which, in turn, developed trust among the people.”
Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and campaigned across northeastern states, said the central government used to be “distant to the needs of the northeast”, but the Modi government “bridged that gap”.
“This mandate is for development of the northeast undertaken by Modi ji. The central government has infused investment in development work in the region, winning the trust of the people who voted for the BJP,” he added.
The party is set to return to power in Tripura despite the challenge posed by the Left-Congress alliance and the TIPRA Motha. The BJP won 32 seats this time, managing to cross the halfway mark in the 60-seat assembly on its own, while its alliance partner, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), bagged one seat.
Rijiju said TIPRA Motha did well because of its stand on a separate Tipraland. “Maharaja saheb (TIPRA Motha chairperson Pradyot Debbarma) formed a group and called for change…it has impacted us and our numbers dropped in those reserved seats…but even in those areas, people are not against the BJP.”
In Nagaland, the BJP contested on 20 seats and won 12 while its alliance partner, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), which contested on 40 seats, managed to bag 25.
In Meghalaya, while the party won two seats like in 2018, it has offered to support the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) which secured 26 seats (out of a total 59) and emerged as the single largest party in the state. Forming the government will not be a problem for the NPP, whose old ally United Democratic Party (UDP) secured 11 seats.
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‘PM won people’s hearts’
“The N-E has a distinct culture. The earlier central governments did not pay heed to their culture, their aspirations, forcing them to pick up the gun…there were several issues which were not addressed,” Rijiju said.
“But Modiji has won the heart of northeastern people…this is the result of his effort in mainstreaming northeast states.”
BJP sources told ThePrint that Assam Chief Minister and party strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading the negotiations to ensure they become a partner in the state government. The state unit has also issued a letter of support to Sangma who tweeted it, thanking the BJP.
Thank you @BJP4Meghalaya for reaching out to the NPP and for extending your support to our party to form the Government. We will continue to work together to serve Meghalaya and its people.@AmitShah @JPNadda @himantabiswa pic.twitter.com/xSR3QD1xNB
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) March 2, 2023
Asked how the party will ally with the NPP after fighting against them, Rijiju said, “We were allies in the coalition. We are hopeful to form the government in Meghalaya.”
Soon after the results were declared, a senior BJP leader told ThePrint that this win in the northeast will keep the momentum high for the party in the coming Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh elections.
BJP national secretary and former Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar told ThePrint: “People have rejected the unholy alliance of the Left and the Congress in Tripura. The narrative of the BJP being an anti-minority party in Nagaland and Meghalaya has also been defeated. The results show that people only believed in the prime minister’s development narrative and the peace brought to the region by the central government.”
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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