Nagaland polls: NDPP agrees to give four urban seats to BJP

Kohima: The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has agreed to part with four urban seats for the coming Nagaland assembly elections for its ally BJP as part of the seat-sharing deal during a meeting in New Delhi, sources said here on Saturday.The NDPP and the BJP had contested the 2018 elections with a 40:20 seat-sharing formula and the alliance partners have decided to continue with it, though a number of leaders from both parties demanded a change in that.NDPP sources said that the BJP sought four urban seats — Kohima Town, Mon Town, Tuensang Sadar-II and Wokha — in its share of 20, which chief minister Neiphiu Rio accepted making the deal final.State BJP leaders confirmed the development.In the 2018 polls, NDPP candidate Dr Neikiesalie Kire won from Kohima Town. However, the alliance lost the other three seats to NPF contestants.Later, the three NPF legislators and 18 others joined NDPP doubling the party's strength in the assembly from 21 to 42.Party insiders said that Kire is unwilling to leave the seat while talks are on to convince him. Details of other constituencies shared between the two could not be known immediately.Filing of nominations for the February 27 election will start on January 31 and will continue till February 7. Counting of votes will take place on March 2. PTI