Latest updates: As over 67 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters on Tuesday exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, Nagaland witness 75 percent voter turnout as hundreds were still lined up to cast their ballots. The Election Commission said that the final figures of voting in the two states will be out later in the day.
Meanwhile, the BJP in Meghalaya filed a complaint with the Election Commission over the alleged broadcast of communal message on radio channel, Radio Mirchi, All India Radio reported.
Violence broke out in Nagaland's Akuluto Assembly constituency after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed, killing one and injuring two others. According to the state CEO, there has been no disturbance to polling process which goes on well, adding that an Additional SP is on the scene. Earlier, Meghalaya CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor has said faulty EVMs and VVPAT errors were reported at some places due to connectivity issue. Several reports of malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs are constantly emerging from Meghalaya. In Nagaland, reports suggest that voting has been halted in Ladigarh polling station due to tension along Assam-Nagaland Border. Meanwhile, the first polling percentages have been released for both the states. A bomb explosion has been reported at a polling booth in Tizit Assembly constituency in Nagaland. The bomb explosion occurred at 6.45 am and one man has suffered injuries in his left leg, says Nagaland Police. State's chief minister TR Zeliang has sought peaceful resolution of the five-decade long insurgency after successful elections. Even as polling is underway in Meghalaya and Nagaland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to urge voters to 'come out in large numbers' to vote.
The stage is set for Tuesday's crucial Assembly elections in the two northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. Polling will be held between 7 am and 4 pm, except in some polling stations of the interior districts of Nagaland, where the process is scheduled to conclude at 3 pm. The two states have a 60-member House each, but voting will be held for 59 constituencies in both.
In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency.
The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on 3 March.
A high-decibel campaign for the polls in the two states came to an end on Sunday evening.
Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the North East. For the Congress, the poll outcome in Meghalaya is particularly significant as it has been ruling the state for the last 10 years. But this time, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to throw the Congress out of power and add Meghalaya into its kitty.
Political observers are keenly watching the BJP's push in the North East, a Congress stronghold, where the saffron party has traditionally been a marginal player.
In Meghalaya, the Congress and the BJP are pitted against each other. While the former has fielded 59 candidates, the latter has put up nominees in 47 constituencies. Though they are contesting the polls separately, in Meghalaya, the National People's Party (NPP) of Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, is the BJP's partner in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
Representational image. AP
In Nagaland, BJP's hope hinges on its alliance partner NDPP (the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) of Neiphiu Rio, which is contesting from 40 seats. The saffron party has fielded candidates from the remaining 20 seats. The Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland since the state's inception in 1963, is contesting from only 18 seats, two less than the BJP, an emerging entity in the North East.
There are 370 candidates in the fray in Meghalaya. A total of 18.4 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,083 polling stations in the state. Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor said for the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state. He added that 32 women candidates were in the fray, the highest ever in the state.
In Nagaland, a total of 11,91,513 voters -- 6,01,707 (50.50 percent) men and 5,89,806 (49.50 percent) women -- will exercise their franchise on Tuesday. There are also 5,925 service voters.
Voting will be conducted in 2,156 polling stations as 40 polling stations fall under the Northern Angami-II seat, from where Rio has been declared elected unopposed.
Over 15,000 government employees will be on poll duty and there will be 177 all-women polling stations across 25 constituencies in the state. The election process in Nagaland had started on a difficult note.
Following a no-election diktat from the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO), advocating "solution (to the Naga political issue) before election", the political parties had initially kept away from the poll process.
Though the process of nomination-filing had started on 31 January, the first batch of 22 contestants filed their candidature only on the penultimate day on 5 February. There was a heavy rush of nominees filing their papers on the last day. After the scrutiny and withdrawal, a total of 227 nominees are left in the field in Nagaland. As many as 281 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), beside the state police force, are deployed throughout Nagaland to ensure a peaceful election.
Nagaland's CEO Abhijit Sinha said all the polling stations would be manned by the CAPF personnel, while the state police would also be assisting them. Of the 2,156 polling stations in Nagaland, 1,100 were declared critical, 530 vulnerable and 526 normal, he added.
The Meghalaya CEO told PTI that six of the 10 additional companies of CAPF were deployed in the troubled East and South Garo Hills districts.
With inputs from PTI
19:33 (IST)
Meghalaya: Repolling ordered in one polling station
Repolling has been ordered at one polling station (Kyndon Tuber) in Raliang constituency in Meghalaya's Jowai district due to "mix up of EVMs". Ballot unit meant for Mookaiaw was instead sent to Raliang. Dates have not been announced yet.
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
18:55 (IST)
Watch: Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor briefs on polling in state
At the customary end-of-polls press conference, Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor explains that the hilly terrain in the state has hindered communications, especially with regions like Garo Hills and West and Southwest Khasi Hills which fall in the shadow areas, leading to incomplete polling percentage figures.
"This is what is available to me at this stage. Later on Tuesday or Wednesday, we will have the full and comprehensive voting percentage."
Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
18:51 (IST)
Peaceful polling in Meghlaya, 88 VVPATs malfunctioned
18:50 (IST)
Visuals from Kohima: Voting machines reach deputy commissioner's office
18:30 (IST)
18:16 (IST)
Polling still on in some constituencies of Nagaland
Visual from Tanlao ward in Mon town.
Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
17:59 (IST)
67% turnout in Meghalaya, 75% in Nagaland: EC
Chief Election Officer FR Kharkongor said, the 50 percent poll percent in Meghalaya, reported earlier, was based on the information the poll panel got from limited number of polling booths.
The 67 percent turnout in Meghalaya is an updated figure that the Eleciton Commission received at 5 pm. Kharkongor further added that the Election Commission is yet to receive polling percentage update from Garo Hills region, which accounts for 40 percent of the overall booths in Meghalaya.
Polling in still continuing in about 22-25% of the total polling stations across Meghalaya, he said.
17:45 (IST)
75% polling percentage in Nagaland till 5 pm
17:09 (IST)
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma positive of win
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma voiced confidence that the Congress will retain power, crossing the magic figure of 31 MLAs.
"I have full faith in the people. I believe they have full confidence in the Congress. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after voting at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati segment.
Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from Ampati and Songsak.
Asked whether the Congress had decided on potential partners in case it fell short of a majority in the new house, he quipped: "We do have lots of good friends."
IANS
17:04 (IST)
50% vote in Meghalaya as balloting ends, people still queued up
Over 50 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, even as hundreds were still lined up to cast ballots.
"Over 50 percent electorate had cast their votes till 4 pm, with a large number of voters still in queues at various polling stations across the state," Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.
A total of 18,09,818 electorates, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters, were to decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. A total of 31.40 percent of the voters had cast votes till 1 pm.
He said technical glitches in 31 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and 41 VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails) were reported from around 180 polling stations.
IANS
16:33 (IST)
At 4 pm, 50% of the registered electorate had cast their votes in Meghalaya, says chief election officer
16:18 (IST)
Meghalaya chief minister, NPP chief cast their votes
16:08 (IST)
North Shillong's Oakland polling station goes all pink
Interestingly, all seven of the candidates in the constituency are men.
Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
15:53 (IST)
Nagaland: 67% polling percentage till 3 pm, says Election Commission
15:52 (IST)
Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad after voting at the Oakland polling station in 17 North Shillong constituency
Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
15:51 (IST)
Voter turnout of 46.83% reported until 3:30pm in Meghalaya
15:42 (IST)
Meghalaya: BJP registers complaint with Election Commission over objectionable advertisement on radio channel
15:36 (IST)
Ex-Meghalaya CM and Nongpoh MLA Donwa Dethwelson Lapang casts his vote at Pahamlapong polling station
Image courtesy: Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
15:25 (IST)
Fresh clashes reported in Nagaland
According to NDTV, one person was killed and two were injured after clashes broke out near a polling booth in Nagaland's Akuluto between Naga People's Front (NPF) and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
Meanwhile, Times Now reported that the clashes were between workes of NPF and BJP. It further reported that one worker was shot at chest and his condition is critical.
15:15 (IST)
Indo-Tibetan Border Police troops guard polling booths in Meghalaya
15:13 (IST)
Around 35% polling till 2 pm in Nagaland
15:12 (IST)
Visuals from polling stations in Meghalaya's Tura town
14:58 (IST)
Peace is still precarious in the state
Three years after brokering the Framework Agreement for peace with Nagaland’s largest rebel group in August 2015, earlier this month, the BJP broke its 15-year alliance with the state’s ruling party, as we said. Traditionally, votes were cast on the basis of village or clan affiliations. However, with the Hindutva-centric BJP now entering the fray, the campaign has turned communal.
Despite the indefinite ceasefire, Nagaland continues to live under the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act, in its 60th year in the state now (1958 to 2018). Declared a “disturbed area”, the deadline for repealing the Act in the state has been extended for another six months, to June 2018. At least 126 civilians in Nagaland were killed in insurgency attacks from 2007 to February 2018, showed the South Asia Terror Portal database. In the first two months of 2018 alone, the state reported four deaths, indicating peace in Nagaland is still precarious.
Read full analysis here
14:52 (IST)
RECAP: Narendra Modi had campaigned in Nagaland on 22 February
14:46 (IST)
Mukul Sangma casts his vote in Meghalaya
14:43 (IST)
Nagaland AAP candidate alleges malpractice in his constituency
Akavi Zhimomi, AAP candidate for Nagaland's Ghaspani-I seat, alleges voters fraud in his constituency, reports The Hindu. He has been quoted as saying that he alerted the Election Commission over "one man one vote" not being practised in many polling stations.
14:40 (IST)
Arrangements for the polls in Meghalaya
The CEO said a total of 106 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with the state armed personnel and police, were deployed across the state, especially in the troubled Garo Hills region.
Tuesday's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding that 18.09 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations in the state. For the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state, the CEO said.
14:21 (IST)
Over half of the candidates in Nagaland are crorepatis
Out of the 193 candidates analysed in Nagaland, 114 (59 percent) were found to be crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assembly elections is Rs 3.76 crores. However, there is one candidate, namely Akavi N. Zhimomi (AAP) contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency, who has declared zero assets in his affidavit.
Source: ADR
14:19 (IST)
Voter turnout update at 2 pm
As of 2 pm, voter turnout in Nagaland stands at 57 percent. Voting in Nagaland is expected to continue till 4 pm. However, in some remote areas of the state, the polling may be wrapped up by 3 pm.
14:09 (IST)
Malfunctioning in EVMs, VVPATs delay polling in Meghalaya
According to CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor, polling at many booths were delayed due to malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs. He didn't give any numbers related to the scale of malfunctions saying they were still collecting information from the ground. He said polling hours will be extended accordingly.
Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/101Reporters
14:03 (IST)
Want more employment opportunity in Nagaland, says voter
A 26-year old voter says she expects more employment opportunities to be created by the next government in Nagaland.
Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
13:49 (IST)
NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu says Nagaland peaceful despite imposition of AFSPA
NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu says it puzzles him that the Indian government has put AFSPA in force in Nagaland despite the peace in the state. “The Naga issue is different from the problems around. Based on our unique history, we are fighting for our right. We believe we will be able to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the problem. Nagaland is peaceful despite all the problems in the state. Naga people have been longing for peace for too long. Therefore, imposition of any draconian law is not at all necessary. That’s what’s puzzling us. Why Indian government has put that draconian law in force in Nagaland.”
Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
13:42 (IST)
Average assets of Meghalaya candidates grew by 44 percent
In Meghalaya, 57 MLAs are recontesting in the ongoing assembly elections. The average assets of these MLAs in 2018 is Rs 11.19 crores. Their average growth in assets from 2013 to 2018 is Rs. 3.41 crores i.e. an increase by 44 percent.
Source: ADR
13:36 (IST)
Voting to end at 3 pm in some booths in Nagaland
In some remote areas in Nagaland, voting will end by 3 pm. However those voters who are present near the polling booths will be provided coupons so that they can continue voting even after the close of polls.
Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
13:34 (IST)
NPF lodges complaint with EC, alleges BJP-NDPP of violating poll code
The NPF has lodged a complaint with the EC alleging that the NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland has violated the Election Model Code of Conduct,The Morung Express reported on Tuesday.
The NDPP-BJP alliance “has, through full, front page advertisements in the local daily newspapers today (26 February, 2018), blatantly violated the Model Code of Conduct by way of making a slew of promises”, NPF associate press secretary Atou Liezietsu wrote to the CEO, Nagaland.
According to the NPF, these promises include “100 percent funding of Centrally-sponsored schemes for Northeast region (which was earlier in the ratio of 90:10), Rs 5300 crore for infrastructure in the next three years, Rs 10,000 crore for roads in Nagaland, Rs 3000 crore for Dimapur-Kohima railway line, Rs 800 crore for power connectivity, and Rs 1800 crore for Kohima Smart City”.
101Reporters
13:21 (IST)
Polling percentage at 1 pm
As of 1 pm, the polling percentage in Nagaland is 56 percent, while it stands at 28.5 percent in Meghalaya.
Source: Chief Election Officers, Nagaland and Meghalaya
13:17 (IST)
ITBP troops guarding various polling booths in Nagaland
13:13 (IST)
People are queuing up in front of polling booth at Baghmara in Meghalaya
Image courtesy: Twitter @AIRnewsalerts
13:06 (IST)
Meghalaya BJP president casts his vote
13:04 (IST)
A brief about Meghalaya
Surrounded by Bangladesh on its south and west, and Assam to its east and north, Meghalaya, roughly the size of Israel, holds a population of two million, equivalent to that of Lucknow. The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, most of whom are Christian, form the three major ethnic tribes in the state and comprise 86.15 percent of its population, shows the 2017 Meghalaya statistical handbook. The religious minorities here include Hindus (11.5 percent) and Muslims (4.4. percent).
Once considered a “role model” of peace and democracy, Meghalaya has witnessed rising insurgency and terrorism since the late 1980s and especially since 2009, according to this 2016 policy brief by the Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies & Analyses. It has also faced unrest due to demands from each of the three major tribes for separate statehood, border disputes with Assam, illegal mining and import of weapons from Assam and Bangladesh, which have impeded the state’s progress.
Read full report here
12:50 (IST)
More details on clashes in Nagaland
"At about 11.10 hrs at Akuluto AC 31, two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed and the party people opened fire in which one person died and two were injured. No disturbance to polling process which goes on well. An Additional SP is on the scene. Further details to follow", said Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha.
Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters
12:48 (IST)
Faulty EVMs found in Meghalaya's Garo Hill
The Hindu reported that as many as 30 EVMs were found to be problematic in Meghalaya's Garo Hills. But the report quoted officials as saying that the machines faced issues with faulty wiring.
12:42 (IST)
One dead, two injured in clash in Akuluto constituency in Nagaland
The Indian Express is reporting that one person has died and two others have been injured after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed in Akuluto Assembly constituency in Nagaland. The report also quoted CEO Abhijit Sinha as saying that there was also firing at the spot.
12:28 (IST)
Despite Fragile Peace, Nagaland Outranks Rich States In Health, Gender Parity
After a decade of precarious peace, Nagaland, India’s once troubled north-eastern state, now rivals and even outperforms India’s richest states on a number of development outcomes, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 10 states on 20 socio-economic and health indicators.
However, poor infrastructure and a fragile peace continue to be problem areas as the state–formed on December 1, 1963–heads to the polls on 27 February, 2018.
Read full analysis here
12:25 (IST)
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged youth to come out and vote
12:20 (IST)
Mukul Sangma votes in Ampati
Meghalaya's incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma stands in a queue to cast his vote at a polling station in Ampati from where he is contesting. He is also contesting from a second constituency, Songsak.
Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters
12:15 (IST)
AAP candidate poorest in Nagaland
According to The Indian Express, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Akavi is the poorest in the fray. Akavi, who is contesting Ghaspani 1 Assembly constituency, has declared zero assets in his name.
12:10 (IST)
Over half of all candidates crorepatis, JD(U)'s Ramongo Lotha richest with Rs 38.92 crore, finds report
Fifty nine percent of the candidates for the 27 February Assembly elections in Nagaland are crorepatis with JD(U) nominee Ramongo Lotha being the richest with a total wealth of Rs 38.92 crore, an analysis of the affidavits said. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the affidavits of 193 aspirants out of a total of 196 candidates, found out that 114 candidates are crorepatis.
12:03 (IST)
In Meghalaya, political dynasties rule the roost as spouses, scions of heavyweights battle it out
Elections in Meghalaya are to a large extent family affairs. Political heavyweights, along with their spouses and scions, are fighting it out to retain power in Tuesday's Assembly elections in the hill state.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from Ampati and Songsak seats, has three family members in the fray from the Garo Hills region. NPP candidates and relatives of former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma are also fighting the polls from four seats in the region.
11:57 (IST)
Six percent of the candidates face serious criminal charges
In Meghalaya, 370 candidates are contesting elections this year. Out of these 25 (7 percent) of the candidates have criminal cases, while 21(6 percent) of them are accused of serious crimes. This includes the likes of former militant Julias Kitbok Dorphang, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in the infamous Marvellene Inn case last year. He is contesting as an Independent from Mawhati constituency in Nongpoh.
Input by Ayswarya Murthy/101Reporters