Guwahati: The BJP will hugely expand its footprint in the northeast, posting victory in Tripura and Nagaland and winning a bigger share of seats in Meghalaya in the latest round of assembly elections, exit polls have predicted. An aggregate of exit polls showed the BJP's alliance government will come to power in Nagaland with ally NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party), and win at least seven seats in Meghalaya -- up from two.
Its performance in Tripura, though, could be lacklustre compared to 2018, when it single-handedly crossed the majority mark.
Exit polls also indicate the Congress could be heading for its biggest setback in the northeast, winning only one seat in Nagaland, and six in Meghalaya, where it was the single-largest party last time.
Exit polls, though, can often get it wrong. The counting of votes for all three states will take place on Thursday.
An aggregate of four exit polls indicates that the BJP may get 32 seats -- barely above the majority mark of 31 -- in the 60-seat Tripura assembly. The Left, which ruled the state for more than 30 years, is likely to get only 15 seats -- the Congress, its unexpected ally for this election, unlikely to add anything to the tally.
Tipra Motha, the new party floated by erstwhile royal Pradyot Kishore Debbarma with the core demand of Greater Tipraland -- is likely to bag 12 seats.
The last time, the BJP won 36 seats in Tripura, but it still tied up with regional power IPFT (Indigenous Progressive Front of Tripura) - which got eight seats -- as insurance against any defection by its MLAs. This time, the Tipra Motha could hold all the cards.
The BJP had initially attempted to build a rapport with the Tipra Motha, but its overtures were met with rebuff after it declared that it would not allow any division of Tripura.
The race for Meghalaya will be tight, with Conrad Sangma's NPP (National People's Party) likely to emerge as the single largest party with 20 seats, shows an aggregate of four exit polls. The BJP, which won only two seats in the state in 2018, will marginally expand its tally, winning six seats. The Congress could win six seats and new entrant Trinamool Congress will open its account with 11 seats.
In 2018, the BJP won only two seats, but managed to cobble together a government with NPP. This time, it fielded candidates on 60 seats after a rift with Mr Sangma's party over allegations of corruption. But the numbers indicate that even if the BJP revives its alliance with Mr Sangma's party it will not be enough for majority and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress could end up being the kingmaker.
In Nagaland, the BJP-NDPP alliance is expected to win 42 seats, way above the majority mark of 31. The NPF is likely to win six seats and the Congress one, indicated an aggregate of four exit polls.