The counting of votes for Nagaland’s Assembly elections began at 8 a.m. on Thursday, amid tight security, according to the Election Commission. The Election Commission has made adequate provisions for vote counting. The results of three northeastern states’ assembly elections, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya, will be announced on Thursday.
Voter turnout was high in all three states. The BJP, which has replaced Congress as the dominant party in the northeast, is optimistic about the positive outcome in the three states. Meghalaya and Nagaland held Assembly elections on February 27, while Tripura voted on February 16.
However, exit polls in Nagaland predict a clear victory for the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance. In Nagaland, the ruling NDPP ran for 40 seats in the 60-member House, while its ally, the BJP, ran for 20. The BJP won Akuluto’s seat without a fight.
In the state, Congress contested 23 seats. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio leads the NDPP-BJP coalition in the state. Kuzholuzo Nienu, leader of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), has stated that the party is open to post-election arrangements. Surprisingly, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has also run 16 candidates.
While elections have already taken place in Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya, six more states will hold assembly elections later this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The results of three northeastern states’ polls are likely to have an impact on national parties’ chances in state elections later this year. The BJP is optimistic about the outcome, which will give it a boost in the upcoming elections.
