Counting of votes in three north-eastern states tomorrow
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections in three Northeastern states -- Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura -- will be held tomorrow amid tight security, officials said. Counting would begin from 8 AM in all the states. While Tripura went to the polls on February 18, elections were held in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. Here's more on it.
The Game of Politics in Northeastern states
BJP emerged as a strong contender in all the three states; two exit-polls have predicted that the party would dethrone the 25-year-old Left Front government in Tripura and consolidate its position in the other two states. While Congress has been ruling Meghalaya for 10 years, NFP has been in power in Nagaland since 2003, except for a three-month period of President's rule in 2008.
Key facts about Meghalaya elections
In Meghalaya, the Congress fielded 59 candidates, while the BJP put up 47 nominees. For the first time, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats.
Voting was held for one less constituency in each three-states
Though the strength of each of the three state Assemblies is 60 members, voting was held for 59 constituencies in all of them, for different reasons. While a CPI(M) candidate died in Tripura, an NCP candidate was killed in Meghalaya, which resulted in countermanding of the polls in one seat each in these states. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio was declared elected unopposed.
Key facts about Nagaland elections
In Nagaland, BJP has joined hands with the NDPP, which is contesting on 40 seats and BJP on 20. While Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland since the state's inception in 1963, is contesting only in 18 seats, two less than BJP.
