Nagaland goes to polls on February 27. Neiphiu Rio, the current Chief Minister of Nagaland, is the chief ministerial face of the NDPP-BJP alliance for the 2023 Assembly polls. The NDPP and the BJP are contesting the elections in a 40:20 seat-sharing arrangement, like they did in 2018. While CM Rio will be contesting from Northern Angami II, Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton from the BJP will contest from Tyui.
A total of 183 candidates from 12 political parties and independents will be trying their luck in the Nagaland general election. These include 40 NDPP candidates, 20 BJP, 22 NPF, 23 Congress, 15 LJP (Ram Vilas), 12 NCP, 12 NPP, 9 RPI (Athawale), 7 JD(U), 3 RJD, 1 RPP, 1 CPI and 19 Independent candidates.
The election will be held for 59 of the 60 total seats as one BJP MLA has already been elected unopposed on one seat. The history of unopposed elections in Nagaland runs deeper. In 1998, the last time the Congress formed a government in the state, Congress candidates won unopposed in 43 of the 60 constituencies in the backdrop of an election boycott call by rebel group NSCN (IM).
Party sources said the NCP took the decision to join the coalition in Nagaland as the majority of the seven newly elected NCP MLAs wanted to be a part of the Neiphiu Rio-led government
Achumbemo Kikon, one of the party's two MLAs, says, “We have to start from scratch. But this party is deeply rooted in the grassroots, in the villages. It will be a Herculean task.”
Sharad Pawar’s NCP outshone others by winning seven seats, the NPP got five, and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and the Republican Party of India (Athawale) bagged two seats each.
An NCP leader says the party’s winning the highest number of seats in the Opposition camp is a big achievement when the Congress hasn't won even one seat in the Northeast state.
BJP could cross half-way mark of 31 in Tripura, in major boost for party; Meghalaya looks headed for hung Assembly, outgoing CM indicates open to tie-ups
Singer Shalmali Kholgade praises ‘ideal Uber driver’ in viral video
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Experiences with cab drivers can often be a mixed bag, with some people sharing unpleasant encounters while others heap praise on drivers who go above and beyond. Indian singer Shalmali Kholgade recently found herself in the latter group after taking a ride with what she called the “ideal Uber driver”.
