BJP, NDPP will form next government in Nagaland: Rijiju

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) will form the next government in Nagaland, said BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday.

"We tried to have an alliance with Naga People's Front (NPF) but we could not reach an agreement on seat sharing. So, we have formally entered into an alliance with NDPP. We are very hopeful that our alliance of newly floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and BJP will form the next Nagaland government with an absolute majority," Rijiju said while addressing a press conference here.

Rijiju also said the former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led NDPP would contest on 40 seats and the BJP on 20.

Rijiju also clarified that despite forging an alliance with the NDPP, the BJP was not severing its ties with NPF, which has been its ally for last 15 years.

"Nagaland is a very sensitive state and the Centre gives special attention and care to Naga issue. However, we have appealed to underground and overground organisations not to create hurdles in the election. The central government could not postpone or withhold elections as it is a constitutional process," the BJP's election in-charge for Nagaland said.

He also said the BJP and the NDPP would not come in the way of the implementation of Naga peace accord.

"Our peace interlocutor is having talks with NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah) and other groups and after the formation of the government, our party and our alliance will not come in the way of implementation of the Naga peace accord as and when it is signed. We will rather facilitate the ground level implementation of any kind of agreement which is likely to be reached as early as possible," Rijiju said.

Eleven parties including the ruling Naga People's Front in January had decided not to contest the February 27 polls, agreeing to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the Naga issue first.