Elections

Scripting history in 60 years of statehood, two women, Hekhani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse of the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), were for the first time elected to the Nagaland assembly from Western Angami and Dimapur-III assembly constituencies respectively.

The Election Commission said that the vote percentage recorded was approximately 76.57 percent till 5 p.m. No major untoward incident happened in the hill state during the election day. At a polling station in the Nongthymmai constituency in the East Khasi Hills district of the state, there were allegations of proxy voting.

Polling percentage was 83.85 in the 2018 Assembly polls, and the 2023 turnout is likely to increase after compilation of the reports of all the Returning Officers, the officials said. According to election officials, voting was largely peaceful across the northeastern state except for some incidents of violence in five districts -- Mokokchung. Wokha, Mon, Zunheboto and Tseminyu.

In Meghalaya, polling was held at 3,419 polling stations across 59 Assembly constituencies, while in Nagaland voting was held in 59 out of 60 Assembly constituencies. The Matrize exit poll for Meghalaya predicted 21-26 seats for the NPP, 6-11 seats to the BJP, 8-13 to the TMC, 3-6 for the Congress and 10-19 for others.

After casting his vote at Tuophema polling station in Kohima district, he said that it is very significant and encouraging that the NSCN-IM and the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) on January 14 issued a joint declaration that they would strive forward to expedite the Naga peace talks with the Central government, protecting the Naga culture, tradition, identity and history.

Election officials said that 87.63 per cent of the 28.14 lakh voters in Tripura exercised their franchise in Thursday's elections to the 60-member Assembly. "This 87.63 per cent turnout calculated on the basis of the votes polled in EVM (Electronic voting Machine) and excluding the votes of the postal ballot and service votes, cast by the polling, security personnel.

Voter turnout was 91.82 per cent and 89.38 per cent in 2013 and 2018 Assembly elections, respectively. The CEO said that when the voting officially ended at 4 p.m. in the afternoon, nine per cent of voters were in the queue in 1,600 polling stations across the state and they were being allowed to cast their votes as of late Thursday evening in a large number.

Voter turnout was 91.82 per cent and 89.38 per cent in 2013 and 2018 Assembly elections, respectively. "Over one lakh voters are still in the queue at many polling stations across the state even after the voting officially ended at 4 p.m. The final voting percentage might cross 86 per cent," an election official told IANS.

Election Officials said that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and state police personnel have taken up positions in all the constituencies. Around 31,000 polling personnel have either reached or were on the way to their designated 3,327 polling stations in 2504 locations.

Earlier, he had visited Bhilwara district to reach out to the Gujjars, and a few months before that, he had come to Mangarh dham to woo tribals. This time, Modi is visiting Dausa to inaugurate the first phase of Delhi-Mumbai expressway. Dausa comprises a Meena belt and hence it won't be wrong to say that Modi's visit in this belt can help the party garner a larger vote share.