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
The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) led Left Front is set to retain power for the fifth straight term in Tripura. As per the latest trends, it has won one seat and is leading in 46 seats. The CPI has won one seat, while the Congress is leading in seven seats in the 60-member Assembly in Tripura. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was heading for victory from Dhaunpur in west Tripura while Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury and other cabinet colleagues were also leading against their Congress nominees. The Congress candidates who are ahead were state party chief Sudip Roy Barman and opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath in the Agartala and Mohanpur constituencies in western Tripura, respectively.
However, both the ruling CPI-M led Left Front as well as the Congress-led opposition alliance are optimistic of forming the next government. 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. 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
The Indian National Congress (INC) is leading in 23 seats, United Democratic Party (UDP) is leading in 4 seats, Hill State People's Democratic Party is leading in 4 seats and Others in 8. Hopingstone Lyngdoh of Hill State People's Democratic Party is leading from Ngstoin constituency in over his nearest rival from the Indian National Congress Adviser Pariong. 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. 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. The Congress fielded candidates in all 60 constituencies while the United Democratic Party (UDP) contested 50 seats.
Nagaland
In Nagaland, where counting of votes began at 8.00 am this morning amidst tight security, the Naga People's Front (NPF) has won two seats and is said to be leading in 20 seats according to the latest trends. The Congress here is leading in 6 seats and the NCP is moving ahead in 4. Others are also leading in seven seats. 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.
