Guwahati, March 2: The BJP today completed its seat adjustments with the party?s allies in the northeastern states, barring Nagaland, but ruled out any truck with the AGP in Assam. Among its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, the BJP decided to concede just one seat each to the Trinamul Congress, the NCP, the Mizo National Front and an All Bodo Students? Union (Absu)-backed Independent candidate.
In Assam, the party, however, kept its doors open for some ?minor local-level adjustments?, BJP vice-president and eastern region in-charge Pyarelal Khandelwal hinted that it might ultimately concede one or two seats to its ally, the Janata Dal (United). He, however, categorically ruled out any tie-up with the AGP. The party has conceded only one seat for its new-found ?mascot? in the region, former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma. The only seat the party doled out to the Sangma-led NCP is the latter?s home constituency, Tura.
A decision to this effect was taken after Khandelwal held separate meetings with the party in-charges and state unit representatives here today.
The BJP will contest 13 seats in Assam, conceding only one seat to the Absu, while in Arunachal and Manipur it will contest both seats leaving nothing for the allies. In Meghalaya, the party will contest one seat and leave the other to the NCP. The only state it has decided not to contest is Mizoram, where its ally, the MNF, will contest the lone seat.
In Nagaland, the party is engaged in hard bargaining with the Nagaland People?s Front (NPF) and has even threatened to snap ties with the regional party if it does not concede the lone seat to the BJP candidate. In Tripura, the party will share the two seats with the Trinamul Congress.
However, the BJP?s decision to walk away with the major share of the seats has triggered resentment among its allies.
Peeved over not getting any seat, president of the Assam unit of the NCP Bhrigu Kumar Phukan today termed the BJP?s decision as ?unfortunate? and said it was overestimating its strength.
Another NDA partner, the Janata Dal (U) said it would put up its candidate for the Kaliabor seat and take up the matter with NDA convener George Fernandes.