New Delhi: Counting of
votes began in the Northeastern states of Meghalaya, Tripura and
Nagaland amidst unprecedented security on Thursday. The Assembly
elections in the three states, having 60 seats each, were held February
14 and February 23.
Tripura
In Tripura, the ruling CPI-M led Left Front has taken an early lead over Congress as it is leading in thirty three seats.
The Congress is leading in four seats in the 60-member Assembly in Tripura.
The INPT is trailing in three seats, Congress in five and CPI (M) in two.
However, both the ruling CPI-M led Left Front as well as the Congress-led opposition alliance are optimistic of forming the next government.
According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashutosh Jindal, a three-tier security has been put in place around the vote counting centres here. The paramilitary forces have been posted inside the counting centres while the state's armed and other security forces are guarding the outer zone.
Besides, several teams of experts from the Electronic Corporation of India are at each counting centre to rectify snags in the electronic voting machines.
The counting of votes will seal the fate of 249 candidates, including 15 women and many Independents, in 60 constituencies of the state assembly.
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.
Over 2,500 officials, including counting supervisors and counting assistants, have been deployed for counting ballots in 60 halls at 17 venues.
As per the directives of the EC, the state authorities have imposed preventive measures prohibiting any gathering of five or more people within 200 metres of each counting centre.
Each counting centre has been equipped with CCTV cameras.
In 2008, the Left Front registered a thumping victory. The CPI-M alone won 46 seats and partners Communist Party of India and Revolutionary Socialist Party secured respectively one and two seats. The Congress bagged 10 seats and the INPT one.
Meghalaya
As per the early morning trends coming from Meghalaya, the United Democratic Party has been maintain a good lead over Congress and other rival parties.
Jova Marak of the United Democratic Party is leading from Rambrai constituency in Meghalaya over Kingford Kharsyntiew of Indian National Congress from Jyrngam constituency.
Probin K. Raswai of United Democratic Party is leading from Ranikor over Martin M. Dango of the Indian National Congress.
The Hill State People's Democratic Party is also reported to be leading in one seat here.
/The process of vote counting in the Meghalaya Assembly election results began at 8.00 am this morning amidst tight security. 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 to pick a new 60-member house in the state bordering Bangladesh. There were 345 candidates, including 25 women and 122 independents.
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
Prominent leaders among the total 345 candidates whose fate would be decided today are HSPDP President Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who had never lost a single election since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972, besides four former Chief Ministers, including Mukul Sangma of the outgoing house.
The three other Chief Ministers are DD Lapang, who is also the state Congress President, S C Marak and United Democratic Party Chief Donkupar Roy.
Other prominent candidates are Mukul Sangma's wife D D Shira, National Peoples Party chief and former Speaker P A Sangma's two sons - Conrad and James.
However, outgoing Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, 47, hopes to return to the assembly for a fifth consecutive time from Ampati constituency.
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.
Nagaland
In Nagaland, where counting of votes began at 8.00 am this morning amidst tight security, the Naga People's Front is said to be leading in one seat according to the initial trends.
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.
While Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF) - the main constituent of ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) - is confident of securing the required majority, the Congress is trying to secure the support of Independents and other parties to form the new government. The NPF expects to win over 32 seats and the Congress at least 25 seats.
The NPF has a pre-poll alliance with the BJP and JD-U and the strength of DAN in the outgoing assembly is 35. In the 2008 polls, the NPF won 26 seats on its own while the Congress won 23.
Therie said the Congress would try to work it out with the NCP and other parties to secure their support once the results were declared. But NPF secretary Kru Zakie said they were confident of securing the majority
A total of 2,600 electronic voting machines were used to conduct the polls in 2,023 polling stations. Re-polling was held at nine polling stations.
In Tripura, the ruling CPI-M led Left Front has taken an early lead over Congress as it is leading in thirty three seats.
The Congress is leading in four seats in the 60-member Assembly in Tripura.
The INPT is trailing in three seats, Congress in five and CPI (M) in two.
However, both the ruling CPI-M led Left Front as well as the Congress-led opposition alliance are optimistic of forming the next government.
According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashutosh Jindal, a three-tier security has been put in place around the vote counting centres here. The paramilitary forces have been posted inside the counting centres while the state's armed and other security forces are guarding the outer zone.
Besides, several teams of experts from the Electronic Corporation of India are at each counting centre to rectify snags in the electronic voting machines.
The counting of votes will seal the fate of 249 candidates, including 15 women and many Independents, in 60 constituencies of the state assembly.
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.
Over 2,500 officials, including counting supervisors and counting assistants, have been deployed for counting ballots in 60 halls at 17 venues.
As per the directives of the EC, the state authorities have imposed preventive measures prohibiting any gathering of five or more people within 200 metres of each counting centre.
Each counting centre has been equipped with CCTV cameras.
In 2008, the Left Front registered a thumping victory. The CPI-M alone won 46 seats and partners Communist Party of India and Revolutionary Socialist Party secured respectively one and two seats. The Congress bagged 10 seats and the INPT one.
Meghalaya
As per the early morning trends coming from Meghalaya, the United Democratic Party has been maintain a good lead over Congress and other rival parties.
Jova Marak of the United Democratic Party is leading from Rambrai constituency in Meghalaya over Kingford Kharsyntiew of Indian National Congress from Jyrngam constituency.
Probin K. Raswai of United Democratic Party is leading from Ranikor over Martin M. Dango of the Indian National Congress.
The Hill State People's Democratic Party is also reported to be leading in one seat here.
/The process of vote counting in the Meghalaya Assembly election results began at 8.00 am this morning amidst tight security. 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 to pick a new 60-member house in the state bordering Bangladesh. There were 345 candidates, including 25 women and 122 independents.
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
Prominent leaders among the total 345 candidates whose fate would be decided today are HSPDP President Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who had never lost a single election since Meghalaya attained statehood in 1972, besides four former Chief Ministers, including Mukul Sangma of the outgoing house.
The three other Chief Ministers are DD Lapang, who is also the state Congress President, S C Marak and United Democratic Party Chief Donkupar Roy.
Other prominent candidates are Mukul Sangma's wife D D Shira, National Peoples Party chief and former Speaker P A Sangma's two sons - Conrad and James.
However, outgoing Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, 47, hopes to return to the assembly for a fifth consecutive time from Ampati constituency.
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.
Nagaland
In Nagaland, where counting of votes began at 8.00 am this morning amidst tight security, the Naga People's Front is said to be leading in one seat according to the initial trends.
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.
While Nagaland Peoples' Front (NPF) - the main constituent of ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) - is confident of securing the required majority, the Congress is trying to secure the support of Independents and other parties to form the new government. The NPF expects to win over 32 seats and the Congress at least 25 seats.
The NPF has a pre-poll alliance with the BJP and JD-U and the strength of DAN in the outgoing assembly is 35. In the 2008 polls, the NPF won 26 seats on its own while the Congress won 23.
Therie said the Congress would try to work it out with the NCP and other parties to secure their support once the results were declared. But NPF secretary Kru Zakie said they were confident of securing the majority
A total of 2,600 electronic voting machines were used to conduct the polls in 2,023 polling stations. Re-polling was held at nine polling stations.
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