Negri Sembilan: Testing a new political equation

All set: Election Commission officials preparing for the nomination process yesterday. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

REMEMBER the jajaran baru (new alignment) I mentioned might happen in a previous column “Mighty strange bedfellows"? Well, it has officially manifested in the Negri Sembilan state elections, for which campaigning kicked off yesterday.

The state polls have drawn complex, multi-cornered battle lines: Pakatan Harapan is contesting all 36 seats, standing against an informal electoral pact comprising Barisan Nasional (25 seats) and a fractured Perikatan Nasional faction (11 seats split among PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan, and MIPP). Standing alone against both blocs is Bersatu, which is contesting 24 seats.