Security bolstered in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland ahead of poll results on Saturday

The assembly election in Tripura was held on Feb 18, while elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland too place on Feb 27.

Though the strength of the assembly of the three states are 60, voting was held in 59 constituencies.

While a CPI(M) candidate died in Tripura, a NCP candidate for Williamnagar constituency in Meghalaya, Jonathone N Sangma, was killed by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants.

In Nagaland, Chief Ministerial candidate of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Neiphiu Rio was elected unopposed.

Meanwhile, the BJP has emerged as a strong contender in all three states.

According to exit polls, the saffron brigade is likely to emerge as the strongest contender in all three states and would dethrone the 25-year-old Left Front government in Tripura.

Congress has been ruling in Meghalaya for 10 years, while Naga People's Front (NPF) is in power in Nagaland since 2003, except for a 3-month period of President’s rule in 2008.

Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the saffron party is now eying to expand its footprints in other NE states.

In Tripura, the BJP had forged a pre-poll alliance with the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT ).

The Narendra Modi-led party had dumped its 15-year old ally Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Nagaland, while forging a bond with the newly formed political party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), led by three times former Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Security measures have been beefed up ahead of the election counting in the states.

In Nagaland, the counting will be held at 17 centres and, while in Meghalaya 13 counting centres will be operational in Meghalaya.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, said that the votes would be counted in presence of candidates, polling agents of the political parties under the supervision of the respective district returning officer.

Counting will begin from 8 am in all three states.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)