BJP’s new strategy for Northeast ahead of Lok Sabha Polls: Withdraws Candidates

The decision to withdraw from the Meghalaya race raises questions about its underlying motivations

Digital Desk: Ahead of the key Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a strategic move by opting out of the electoral contest in Meghalaya. Instead, the party has decided to throw its weight behind its allies, particularly the National People’s Party (NPP) in the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA). This decision, endorsed by the party's high command and echoed by state BJP members, marks a shift in electoral strategy.

The BJP has pledged its support to the Naga People’s Front (NPF) for one of the parliamentary seats in Manipur and the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state. This move underscores the BJP's commitment to coalition politics and its willingness to forge alliances to secure political objectives.

The decision to withdraw from the Meghalaya race raises questions about its underlying motivations. While it is speculated that the NPP's withdrawal from the Lok Sabha race in Arunachal Pradesh may have influenced the BJP's decision, internal party dynamics cannot be discounted. Conflicts over party tickets, particularly in Shillong and Tura, may have compelled the BJP leadership to throw its support behind the NPP.

While this decision is expected to have repercussions on the electoral outcome in Meghalaya, doubts linger about the extent of support the NPP will receive from the entire BJP supporter base. NPP National President and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma have expressed gratitude for BJP's support, highlighting the strong coordination among NEDA partners in the North-East.

State BJP representatives, led by Party President Rickman Momin, formally conveyed their support to Conrad Sangma's office, signalling a united front among coalition partners. This move not only strengthens the NEDA's position in the region but also underscores the BJP's strategic manoeuvring in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.