* NPF CONFIDENT OF MAJORITY * CONG PREDICTS HUNG HOUSE
Counting of votes for 59 assembly constituencies spread over 11 districts that went to the polls on February 23 will be held on February 28 in 60 counting from 8 a.m. in the district headquarters to decide members for the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Elections were marred by violent incidents in several constituencies including booth capturing and rampant proxy voting.
According to an estimate the 185 candidates had spent a total of over Rs.500 crore while some analysts put the figure close to Rs.1000 crore.
The ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) will seek to retain power for the third consecutive term. It has assumed power after the 2003 election with post-poll alliance with NDM, BJP, JD (U),SP and Independents though winning only 19 seats.
In 2008, Congress bagged 23 and NPF with 26 seats formed the government with support of NCP and BJP and independents. For the February 23 election, the ruling NPF formed a pre-poll alliance with the BJP and JD (U) though in practice, the parties fought each other in several constituencies.
The BJP had set up 11 candidates, JD (U) 3; NCP 15; RJD 2 Independents 38 candidates. After election to the 52 Tuensang Sadar-I was adjourned following the death of a candidate, NPF contested in 59 and Congress in 56 assembly constituencies.
NPF predicts absolute majority
Ruling NPF has been predicting that it will regain power for the third consecutive term, beating the anti-incumbency factor by winning at least 32 to 34 seats on its own, excluding its pre-poll allies the BJP and JD (U).
The NPF is expected to virtually sweep Kohima district and make further inroads in Mokokchung district by predicting that it will win at least four to five out of ten seats. Mokokchung district used to be a Congress bastion till the 2003 election.
In Phek the NPF also expects to win all the five seats. This was however contested by the Congress which predicted it would win either one or two seats.
In Mon, the NPF also predicted it will win at least five out of the nine seats and three or four out of the six seats where polling was conducted.
According to sources, the party has already begun the process of choosing winners from districts to be inducted as ministers that included veteran regional political from Mon Noke Konyak.
The party also planned to choose the next speaker from Eastern Nagaland. The sources speculated that the NPF has already decided on the seniority list of its probable ministers– Noke Konyak would be the No.2, followed by TR Zeliang as No.3; Kiyanilie as No. 4; Azo Neinu as No.5; Kaito Aye as No.6; Nuklotoshi as No.7 and P. Longon as No.8. Interestingly, the name of former home minister Imkong L. Imchen does not figure in the probable list, the sources said.
Congress predicts Hung House
Congress, which is fighting its third election after spending two terms in the opposition bench, has predicted that the party could win anywhere between 20-22 seats and claimed that the NPF would not win more than 25-26 seats.
Congress sources disclosed that the next government would be a coalition between post-poll alliance parties, Congress, NCP, RJD and Independents.
The Congress source also predicted that the NCP would win between 4-5 seats, the RJD one and independents between 8-10 seats.
The party has exuded confidence that with the above, including some independents, the next government would be a real coalition government.
Congress has also expressed confidence that the independents in touch would be part of a new government to “undo the damage caused by rampant corruption of the government and society” by the divide and rule policies of the NPF government.
NCP, RJD pledge support
NPCC president S.I. Jamir has revealed that the NCP state president Neiba Ndang has committed to be part of the coalition government as well as the RJD.
He said the national leaders of the NCP and RJD have also given the go-ahead to form an alliance with independents and Congress.
Meanwhile, Convener of PAC, NPCC K. Therie has stated that the Congress party, NCP and RJD along with others have started “working together” towards forming the next state government based on the “true will of the people.”
In a statement, K. Therie said “intellectuals” had recognized the need for a change of government and even the general pre-poll trends indicated that there was going to be a change.
He however argued that these trends were changed after “crores of rupees” were distributed and some of the amount was even seized.
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