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
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 4 | 0 |
| UNDP | 1 | 0 |
| NPF | 15 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 2 | 0 |
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.
Among those whose electoral fortunes will be decided today are chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie, opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi, state Congress president S I Jamir and former home minister Imkong L Imchen.
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 are 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.
Meghalaya: Amid split verdict fears, Congress dreams victory
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 12 | 0 |
| UDP | 6 | 0 |
| NCP | 1 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 6 | 0 |
| Hill state People's Democratic party | 2 | 2 |
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 said.
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.
Counting begins in Tripura
| PARTY | LEADS | WINS |
| CONGRESS | 4 | 0 |
| CPM | 32 | 0 |
| CPI | 1 | 0 |
| OTHERS | 2 | 0 |
Counting of votes for the 60 assembly seats in Tripura began at 8am on Thursday morning amidst tight security.
The counting began at 17 venues in eight districts of the state with three-tier security in each counting hall, sources in the office of chief electoral officer said.
Among prominent candidates whose electoral fates would be decided are chief minister Manik Sarkar from Dhanpur, finance minister Badal Chowdhury from Hrishyamukh, higher education minister Anil Sarkar from Pratapgarh, industries and commerce minister Jitendra Chowdhury from Manu (ST).
The electoral fortunes of TPCC President Sudip Ray Barman from Agartala, leader of the opposition Ratan Lal Nath of Congress from Mohanpur and president of the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura Bijay Hrankhwal from Ambassa would also be decided.
Around 2,500 employees, including counting supervisors and counting assistants, have been engaged together with micro observers and Election Commission appointed observers.
Prohibitory orders have been imposed within 100 meter of each counting hall where CCTV have been installed.
The 856 km border with neighbouring Bangladesh has been sealed since Wednesday.
The elections were held on February 14.
(With inputs from agencies)
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