The three Northeastern states, including Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, are crucial for both national as well as regional players. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to expand its political footprint in the Northeast after forming governments in three states in the region—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The Congress is banking heavily on Meghalaya to retain its rapidly eroding dominance in the region.