NEW DELHI/KOHIMA/AGARTALA/ SHILLONG: Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura will get new governments today. Counting of votes began at 8am in all the three northeast states.
Tight security for Nagaland assembly poll counting
Adequate security arrangements have been made for the counting of votes to the 59 assembly seats of the 60-member House in Nagaland today.
Peaceful elections were held in the state on February 23 while re-polling was done in nine polling stations at eight assembly constituencies spread over seven districts on Wednesday.
CEO Nagaland J Alam said that counting will be held in 12 districts, which includes Pughoboto electoral district.
A total of 59 halls have been provided in the districts with three-tier security layers created in each counting hall.
Over 10,000 counting personnel including counting supervisors and counting assistants will be engaged in the counting process along with micro observers and Election Commission appointed observers.
In consonance with an Election Commission directive, the international border has been sealed so that no unwanted elements can enter into the state during the counting of votes.
The entire process will be videographed, he said.
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 0 | 0 |
| UNDP | 0 | 0 |
| NPF | 0 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 0 | 0 |
Meghalaya: Amid split verdict fears, Congress dreams victory
With counting of votes underway in Meghalaya, both the ruling Congress and non-Congress parties are confident of winning the elections.
A whopping 88 percent of the 1.5 million voters exercised their franchise Feb 16 to pick a new 60-member house in the state bordering Bangladesh.
There were 345 candidates, including 25 women and 122 independents.
But some experts fear that Meghalaya may be headed for a fractured mandate.
"I have always believed that Meghalaya will never get a clear mandate since elections here are conducted based on the personality of the candidate and trivial issues," AK Baruah, a retired professor of political science who taught at the North Eastern Hill University said.
Carved out of Assam in 1972, Meghalaya has seen 23 chief ministers in a span of 41 years.
Captain Williamson Sangma, who led the government for the first time, was the only one to ever lead a single-party government in the state.
Since then, Meghalaya has seen fractured mandates, leading to volatile coalition governments.
However, outgoing chief minster Mukul Sangma, 47, hopes to return to the assembly for a fifth consecutive time from Ampati constituency.
"We are close to half-way mark and we are hoping to get more," the Congress leader told IANS on telephone from Tura in West Garo Hills.
The Congress fielded candidates in all 60 constituencies while the United Democratic Party (UDP) contested 50 seats.
The Purno Sangma-led Nationalist People's Party (NPP) had 32 candidates, and the Nationalist Congress Party 21.
The UDP is confident of ousting the Congress.
"We will cross 15 seats and if luck favours we might even cross 20," UDP leader Bindo M Lanong said.
Lanong said UDP was in touch with "like-minded parties" for post-poll alliances.
Predicting a Congress failure, Purno Sangma's son Conrad, leader of the opposition in the assembly, claimed that Chief Minister Mukul Sangma would bite the dust.
"We are hopeful of increasing our tally," Conrad said.
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 0 | 0 |
| UDP | 0 | 0 |
| NCP | 0 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 0 | 0 |
Tripura: Counting being held at 17 venues
Counting of votes for the 60 assembly seats in Tripura underway amid tight security.
Elections were held on February 14.
Around 2500 employees including counting supervisors and counting assistants will be engaged in the counting process along with micro observers and Election Commission appointed observers.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed within 100 meter of each counting hall and the entire counting process will be done under CCTV surveillance.
Official sources said the 856 KM long border with neighbouring Bangladesh was sealed today so that no unwanted elements could enter into the state during counting of votes.
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 0 | 0 |
| CPM | 0 | 0 |
| CPI | 0 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 0 | 0 |
(With inputs from agencies)
Assembly polls: Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura to get new govts today
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Assembly polls: Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura to get new govts today
