Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA81
2008-03-06 12:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
NAGALAND POLLS GO OFF PEACEFULLY, CONGRESS NOW HAS TO WAIT
how-toVZCZCXRO7073 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0081 0661204 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 061204Z MAR 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1912 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1794 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0831 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0826 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0556 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0406 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2335
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000081
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: NAGALAND POLLS GO OFF PEACEFULLY, CONGRESS NOW HAS TO WAIT
AND SEE
REF: KOLKATA 0036
UNCLAS KOLKATA 000081
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: NAGALAND POLLS GO OFF PEACEFULLY, CONGRESS NOW HAS TO WAIT
AND SEE
REF: KOLKATA 0036
1. (U) March 5 Assembly elections went off peacefully in the
Northeast Indian state of Nagaland as Congress and the Nagaland
People's Front (NPF)-led coalition of Democratic Alliance of
Nagaland (DAN) vied for control of the 60-member Assembly.
Voter turnout was about 85 percent, a two percent drop from the
2003 Assembly elections. Final results are expected on March 8,
and while Congress may fare better this time around, their
chances at forming a ruling coalition depend on the success of
their partners.
2. (U) The March 5 election took place under President's Rule
in Nagaland after Congress legislators complained of a lack of
governance and transparency (reftel). During their campaign,
Congress candidates tried to convince voters that President's
Rule was a "blessing in disguise," while NPF-led DAN called it a
symbol of "Delhi's hegemony." While both Congress and the NPF
fielded candidates for nearly all 60 seats, the BJP fielded 23
candidates and Congress' UPA partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
fielded 25. For the first time in a decade, Congress stalwart
S.C Jamir did not participate in the elections -- he is now the
Governor of Goa - a fact which reduced the tensions between the
Congress and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak
Muivah, and which likely won Congress some support. Along with
some defections from the DAN coalition after imposition of
President's Rule (reftel) Congress is in the driver's seat, but
will still need the support of some smaller parties who are
likely to gain some seats, such as the RJD, to form a government.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: NAGALAND POLLS GO OFF PEACEFULLY, CONGRESS NOW HAS TO WAIT
AND SEE
REF: KOLKATA 0036
1. (U) March 5 Assembly elections went off peacefully in the
Northeast Indian state of Nagaland as Congress and the Nagaland
People's Front (NPF)-led coalition of Democratic Alliance of
Nagaland (DAN) vied for control of the 60-member Assembly.
Voter turnout was about 85 percent, a two percent drop from the
2003 Assembly elections. Final results are expected on March 8,
and while Congress may fare better this time around, their
chances at forming a ruling coalition depend on the success of
their partners.
2. (U) The March 5 election took place under President's Rule
in Nagaland after Congress legislators complained of a lack of
governance and transparency (reftel). During their campaign,
Congress candidates tried to convince voters that President's
Rule was a "blessing in disguise," while NPF-led DAN called it a
symbol of "Delhi's hegemony." While both Congress and the NPF
fielded candidates for nearly all 60 seats, the BJP fielded 23
candidates and Congress' UPA partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
fielded 25. For the first time in a decade, Congress stalwart
S.C Jamir did not participate in the elections -- he is now the
Governor of Goa - a fact which reduced the tensions between the
Congress and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak
Muivah, and which likely won Congress some support. Along with
some defections from the DAN coalition after imposition of
President's Rule (reftel) Congress is in the driver's seat, but
will still need the support of some smaller parties who are
likely to gain some seats, such as the RJD, to form a government.
JARDINE