Assam chief minister and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the BJP central leadership would be finalising the 40 (NDPP):20 (BJP) seat sharing arrangement by January 19.
Accordign to reports, Sarma acknowledged that there were some issues to be cleared with regard to the NDPP-BJP seat sharing agreement, but stated that it would be finalised by BJP central leadership.
BJP party sources informed Nagaland Post that State BJP president and minister Temjen Imna Along had left for New Delhi on Saturday to attend the BJP’s two-day crucial national executive meeting and also likely to attend the meeting of the party to finalise the seat sharing arrangement. Sources said the BJP was also likely to decide on the Assembly constituencies where it would be putting up candidates.
Leaving aside a few Assembly constituencies currently held by BJP, the party high command would take a final call on the constituencies it would be fielding candidates. “It is very clear that both NDPP-BJP will go as per the 40:20 seat agreement. However, we have already carried out our assessments in some constituencies where BJP has high chances of winning. There will be re-alignment in Assembly constituencies where BJP will be contesting,” party sources disclosed.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the State BJP, as directed by the Central leadership, had listed out names of some probable candidates and would be submitting their names to the central election committee.
A senior BJP functionary also informed Nagaland Post that during the recent visit of Union Home minister Amit Shah to Dimapur, the latter had categorically told party leaders that the 40:20 seat sharing arrangement between NDPP and BJP had been agreed and finalised and that nothing would be changed. Shah had also told the party leaders that the final decision of awarding party tickets would be made by the central election committee after thorough analysis.
Meanwhile, sources said that chief minister Neiphiu Rio held a meeting with Sarma and BJP national spokesperson (in-charge of Nagaland) Nalin Kohli in Guwahati on January 12 and discussed about the forthcoming Assembly election and the seat sharing strategy between the two parties.