The exit poll results have made the most shocking predictions for the Congress. There was a time when the Congress used to dominate in these states of the North East, but now the Congress seems to be getting clear from here. The situation is that the Congress is not even able to touch double digits in all the three states where elections are held. In Nagaland, exit polls are telling that it is difficult to win even a single seat.
Voting ended on Monday in three important states of the North East. Voting took place in Meghalaya and Nagaland on 27 February, while in Tripura on 16 February. Now the election results of all the three states will come together on March 2. In such a situation, everyone’s eyes will be fixed on these results.
However, on its first Monday, many agencies released the results of exit polls. In this, it is estimated that BJP is going to form coalition government in Tripura and Nagaland, while Meghalaya seems to be in trouble. No party or alliance is expected to get absolute majority here.
The exit poll results have made the most shocking predictions for the Congress. There was a time when the Congress used to dominate in these states of the North East, but now the Congress seems to be getting clear from here. The situation is that the Congress is not even able to touch double digits in all the three states where elections are held. In Nagaland, exit polls are telling that it is difficult to win even a single seat.
In such a situation, the question arises that why did the Congress not enter the fray with full force in these elections? Why did the Congress, which once ruled the state, limit itself so much at the time of the alliance? Let’s understand…
Did the Congress not contest the election strongly?
Rahul Gandhi did not address a single public meeting in Tripura. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also did not campaign for the Congress in Tripura. Rahul Gandhi did not campaign in Nagaland also. Rahul only went to Meghalaya to address an election rally. On the other hand, on behalf of the BJP, PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda addressed more than 10 rallies in all the three states.
Why didn’t the Congress show its strength in the Northeast?
To understand this, we spoke to senior journalist Ashok Srivastava. He said that the central leadership probably did not want to take the blame for the defeat in these elections. This could be the main reason for all the big leaders including Rahul, Kharge to stay away from it.
Ashok points out that out of the three states where elections were held, Congress did not get a single seat last time in two. These states are Tripura and Nagaland. Congress did not have much hope this time also. This is the reason why the Congress in Tripura gave more seats to the Left than itself. At the same time, contested elections in Nagaland too with impunity.
The situation is such that even candidates were not found to field the Congress. The party contested only 23 seats. As far as Meghalaya is concerned, Congress had emerged as the single largest party here last time. This is the reason why Rahul came here to hold a rally. However, the party’s condition is bad here too. Most of the party leaders have gone to other parties. Mukul Sangma, who was the Chief Minister of the state till 2018, has also joined TMC.
What will be its impact in 2024?
Ashok says that it is possible that in a way this may also be a part of the Congress strategy. By giving importance to regional parties in the assembly elections, she is expecting help from them in the Lok Sabha elections. In the states where the Congress is in a direct fight, it is fighting alone, but where the Congress is weak, it is taking the support of other regional parties of the opposition.
At the same time, senior journalist Pramod Kumar Singh says, ‘At present there is no unity in the opposition. In such a situation, by giving importance to the regional parties, the Congress itself is seeking their support in the Lok Sabha elections. There may also be an attempt to form a complete group of regional parties against the BJP. Through this, he must be trying to focus on every region, every caste. However, it is not that easy either. At present, there are many factions in the opposition.
Now know what are the predictions made for the three states in the exit polls?
Tripura: Once again the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to form the government in Tripura. The majority mark is 31. Claims have been made regarding this in all the exit polls.