VZCZCXRO7073
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 
 
¶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