From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: After winning crucial Gujarat and easy target Himachal Pradesh, an emboldened BJP is now eying the next phase of polls in the North East, particularly in Meghalaya, which is witnessing strong anti-incumbency.
There is elation at party headquarters after the main opponent Congress is left with four states — Punjab, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Mizoram — a far cry from its presence in 13 states back in 2014. The centurion party used to rule almost all the major states and the entire North East not long ago.
“We are confident of winning all the three North Eastern states and hope the region will be Congress-free early next year,” a senior BJP leader said.
As many as three northeastern states are going to polls in 2018. At present, the Congress is the ruling party in Meghalaya and Mizoram while the Left Front is ruling Tripura.
BJP has lately built a strong base of cadres and network of organisations in these states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual poll campaign in Meghalaya last week with huge footfall has also enthused the party rank and file.
From among the northeastern states, Meghalaya seems to be an easy target for BJP to capture with the help of regional parties.
“More than any wave, the anger at and dissatisfaction with the Congress rule will help BJP in Meghalaya,” the leader said.
A few in the state and fewer in the Congress like the dictatorial style of functioning of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma even though he continued for the longest period, he added.
In Tripura, BJP cadres are locked in a bitter clash with those from Left Front. For the first time CPI(M) is facing an organised cadre-based party like BJP which was not the case with the Congress or the Trinamool Congress so far.
In a bid to increase its appeal in the region, BJP is trying to woo Christian voters. BJP’s minister in charge for Meghalaya, Alphons Kannanthanam, has conducted several interactive sessions with the state’s church leaders. Controversial issues like ban on beef have been put on backburner in at least states like Meghalaya.
“North East India is Eshaan Kon. Like we need to keep the northeast corner of the house clean and orderly to ensure a healthy and prosperous family, we need to bring order in northeast India as well. Without this, development in the country is not possible,” said the senior BJP leader, adding, “Only BJP can bring order in the region.”
BJP has already won elections in neighbouring Assam and Manipur with the help of its main leader Himanta Biswa Sarma. The party is already in alliance in the other big state, Arunachal Pradesh, and small Himalayan state Sikkim.
Besides, a stable government at the Centre has also come as an added advantage to BJP that was not the case earlier. Also, there will not be a governor in the states who will create obstacles for the party coming to power or forming an alliance.
After winning Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, BJP has brought two more states under its fold, marking its presence in 19 states in India.
Before BJP came to power in 2014, it held only seven states – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Nagaland and Maharashtra. Today, the only states where it is not in power are Tamil Nadu (AIADMK), Kerala (CPI-M), West Bengal (Trinamool Congress), Odisha (Biju Janata Dal), Meghalaya (Congress), Telangana (Telangana Rashtra Samiti), Mizoram (Congress), Nagaland (Naga People’s Front), Delhi (Aam Aadmi Party) and Tripura (CPI-M).
The morale of the Congress in Meghalaya is also at an all-time low. Former chief ministers, deputy chief minister, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and other legislators have either been driven out of the party or they refused to contest. The last salvo came from none other than MPCC president DD Lapang after he withdrew himself from electoral politics.
“Barring one Assembly by-election in the Garo Hills, the party lost all the elections held in recent years – two major ones in Garo Hills considered to be the pocket burrow of Mukul Sangma. These are not at all good indicators for the Congress our main rival in the hill state,” the BJP leader added.