After demolishing the Congress stronghold in Assam, the BJP now aims at to capture two more Congress-ruled states — Manipur and Meghalaya — where Assembly polls are scheduled to take place in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The BJP had already succeeded in making in roads in Manipur in last Assembly elections by winning two seats, besides making its presence felt across the state which is dominated by Meitei and Hindu communities. The victory in Assam has strengthened the voice of the saffron brigade in the frontier states as the BJP has also started an exercise to strengthen its ties with the National People’s Party (NPP), which succeeded in maintaining its dominance in Garo Hills of Meghalaya even after the sudden demise of its stalwart P.A. Sangma.
Mr Conrad K. Sangma defeated ruling Congress candidate Dikkanchi D. Shira, wife of Mukul Sangma, in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha byelections.
If Congress defeat in Meghalaya has created dissension in Meghalaya Congress with growing demand to remove chief minister Mukul Sangma, it is significant that 15-year old Okram Ibobi Singh led Congress government in Manipur has also been facing revolt like situation. Though, Mr Singh succeeded in quelling the dissidence by reshuffling his council of ministers and replacing PCC chief, the dissension continues to wreak an havoc for the Congress government in the frontier states in addition to anti-incumbency of 15-years.
The BJP intends to capitalize the situation by turning it into an opportunity, this is what BJP strategist in Northeast claimed.
