Election result 2018: The BJP has taken Tripura, while it's hung in Meghalaya and Nagaland is uncertain
Counting of votes is complete in the three north east states -
Nagaland,
Meghalaya and
Tripura. The BJP under its state chief Biplab Kumar Deb and along with its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura won 43 seats. CPI(M) leader and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who has been in power for 20 years, has reached the end, with the party getting 16 seats. In Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio's Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which has partnered with the BJP, won a total of 29 seats. The Naga People's Front of TR Zeliang and its allies also got 29 seats. In Meghalaya, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has won in both the constituencies from where he fought the assembly election. But the results appear to headed for a hung house.
Here are the highlights of the election results in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya:
Amit Shah's desire of BJP forming government in Odisha will never be fulfilled: BJD
BJD leaders have ridiculed BJP president Amit Shah's statement and claimed that the party's "dream" of forming the government Odisha will never be fulfilled even though it has won in Tripura and other northeastern states. "Only Naveen Patnaik is popular in Odisha. Nobody knows Amit Shah in Odisha. The BJP is passing through a silver period but it will not reach its golden era. His ( Mr Shah) desire of BJP forming government in Odisha will never be fulfilled," Odisha's Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy told reporters. Mr Shah earlier in the day said that BJP's golden period will start when it forms government in Odisha, West Bengal and Kerala.
CPM's Brinda Karat on Tripura election result
- It's true there were so many malfunctioning EVMs in Tripura that it is quite unprecedented. In Manik Sarkar's constituencies there is an ongoing incident.
- The Election Commission itself has admitted there are many malfunctioning machines.
- We do not attribute our performance to EVMs. But we do talk about unprecedented deployment of money by BJP and RSS. This is encounter politics in the parliamentary sphere.
Speaking at NDTV's special election analysis, CPM's politburo member MA Baby says, "Congress will have to introspect about anti-people economic policy."
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and BJP President
Amit Shah wave as they arrive to address BJP party workers at its headquarters in Delhi earlier today.
It's a setback for the Left: CPM's Brinda Karat
"It is a setback for the Left. There is absolutely no getting away from that. However, Left has got 45% of the vote so we have got a substantial support in Tripura": Brinda Karat on Tripura election results.
Addressing a press conference, BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "We have got only two seats in Meghalaya. The main largest party is NPP. We want the NPP to talk to people and form a non-Congress government. They have to take the lead and we will support them."
Nitin Gadkari and Jual Oram will be going as observers to Tripura, says union minister JP Nadda. He also says that he along with Arun Singh will go be heading to Nagaland, while Kiren Rijiju and KJ Alphons will be going to Meghalaya for government formation.
After Tripura Victory, BJP Now On Mission Bengal
Following the BJP's historic win in the Tripura assembly elections, the party's West Bengal unit on Saturday said this will surely impact state politics and predicted a "sea change" in Bengal's political scenario in six months. "It is the people who have brought about the change in Tripura. They will bring about the change in Bengal too. We are trying to build our party organisation here as per their hopes and aspirations. We have full support from our national leadership. I think there will be a sea change in Bengal within six months," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.
Reacting to PM Modi's comments, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, "I don't remember complaining to him against the Congress high command. Did the high command go and complain to him against me?"
"One really fails to understand what prompted Mr. Modi's ill-conceived and unfounded remark," he added.
"And I am personally set to take this battle to the finish Mr Modi," the Punjab chief minister said.
In his victory speech this evening, PM Modi had said the Congress high command doesn't consider Amarinder Singh as one of their own. He said: "In Punjab, the Congress does not even consider their CM as their own. He marches on, like an independent solider."
Swaraj India's chief Yogendra Yadav on election results: "What happened in Tripura wasn't usual or ordinary. It was historic. It was due to the anti-incumbency of the Left, the BJP's will to power and the Congress's complete ineptitude."
Nagaland's top election official has said that there are problems with votes in two seats. They are going to hold a press conference soon, reports NDTV's Monideepa Banerjie from Kohima.
Knew we were going to breach the 40-plus seat barrier: Babul Supriyo- I have seen such immense enthusiasm in the streets of Tripura. I knew we were going to breach the 40-plus seat barrier
- I'm quite confident that West Bengal BJP will be more advanced than this. They will beat Mamata. We will even see an alliance of Congress, Left and Mamata to stop BJP but they won't be able to.
Speaking on the BJP's strategy for Tripura, he said: "we formed 60 Mandal committees, then seven morchas in the party. After that we have Shakti Kendra - a group of five booths. Then came booth committee. In the last one year, we reached a stage where we had in charges for each page of these voter lists. Each page had 60 voters".
People of Tripura were seeking change right from 1998 but the nature of elections and muscle power of CPM - the rigging that took place all these years (prevented that), BJP's Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar said.
"I had said during campaigning too, all this love you give to the BJP, we will return it with interest."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
"I have heard from people who believe in Vastu Shastra that the north east corner of a house is a very important place. Today, I'm very happy that this country's north east has come ahead to lead the country's development."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
"Yesterday, the country was bathed in all the colours of Holi. But today, all the colours are saffron."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pauses victory speech for
azaan.
"Today is historic for two reasons. The BJP is celebrating its first victory in the new headquarters. And second, the
rath under Modi-
ji's leadership, after winning in the north east, is going toward Karnataka."
Amit Shah
National People's Party legislator James Sangma shows a victory sign after winning from Dadenggre constituency in the Meghalaya assembly election.
The ruling Nagaland People's Front (NPF) is ready to form the government in the state with the BJP if it comes forward for a post-poll alliance, Chief Minister TR Zeliang said.
"These elections are an omen for what to expect in the Karnataka and then the upcoming national elections... Today we are seeing a true pan-India rise of the BJP. It used to be known as a party of the Hindi belt but that has changed now."
Amit Shah, BJP president
The BJP has decked up chairs at its office in Shillong, awaiting the arrival of leaders and party workers, in anticipation of a good show in the Meghalaya assembly election.
Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav has landed in Nagaland's Dimapur, where he is holding meetings at the airport.
"Time and again, election after election, the people of India are reposing their faith in the positive and development oriented agenda of the NDA. People do not have the time or respect for negative, disruptive and disconnected politics of any kind."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
BJP supporters celebrate at the party's office in New Delhi.
"BJP's impressive win in Tripura clearly indicates people's support to our unwavering commitment to bring positive change with development and good governance. I congratulate BJP's Tripura leadership and party karyakartas on this big victory."
Rajnath Singh, Home Minister
"The dream roadmap of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-
ji for north east India has won the heart of the people. A new political landscape led by BJP is firmly established in the region now. Good for north east, good for India."
Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State For Home
Congress leader and Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma shows the victory sign. He won from both the seats that he contested -- Ampati constituency in South West Garo Hills district, and Songsak constituency in East Garo Hills district.
"We are the single largest party. Constitutional precedents demand governor calls to form the government. We had adequate numbers. Associates have assured support in the last one hour. BJP is out of the fray, they are trying to create mischief."
Kamal Nath, Congress
There's no stopping these party workers today as the BJP adds Tripura to the growing list of states it rules.
The latest results data of the Election Commission shows that the BJP has won its first seat in Meghalaya. Results for 26 of the 59 seats have been declared in the state.
Senior Congress leadership led by Kamal Nath has reached Meghalaya
TR Zeliang of the Naga People's Front has won from 7-Peren constituency. His rival Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party has won from Northern Angami-2 constituency.
BJP's north east strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma is headed to Shillong where the next few hours will see hectic negotiations with Meghalaya giving a majority to no party. The Congress is leading in 22 seats, nine short of the 31 seats needed to form government.
In 2013, the Congress had won 29 of Meghalaya's 60 seats and had formed government with the help of Independents.
Just in: Biplab Kumar Deb, BJP's chief ministerial pick for Tripura, wins his seat
The BJP is leading in 32 seats in Tripura while its ally the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura is leading in seven seats. The CPI(M) appears to have got 19 seats. BJP supporters have come out on state capital Agartala's streets to celebrate the party's score in the north east state, where the Left Front under Manik Sarkar has been in power for 20 years.
Rang Barse as BJP and ally People's Front of Tripura surge ahead in Left-ruled Tripura
"Election is election. Sometimes we get unexpected results. But we are confident we will get majority along with our allies. We are continuing our alliance (with BJP), we have not parted at any point of time. I have two ministers in my cabinet from the BJP. Some leaders of the BJP are in touch with us. Don't know if NDPP will come back. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kiren Rijiju are in talks with us. We welcome the BJP if they want to be part of the government."
T. R. Zeliang, Chief Minister of Nagaland
Biplab Kumar Dev, 49, is among BJP's chief minister picks for Tripura. The former RSS volunteer is also the BJP's youngest chief in any state. He was a gym instructor when he shifted to Delhi 15 years ago. The BJP leader was mentored by the party's Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar.
"It's a huge vindication, gratification for us. This marks the end of the politics of exploitation of weaker sections, of appeasement and creating a false image of the BJP. Tremendous effort has gone into explaining to the people that we are one of you. We only focus on aspirations of the 2018 India which is
vikas, vikas, vikas.
BJP's Jitendra Singh on Tripura results
"This is nothing new. For 40 years I have seen the north east lean towards the party in power at the centre. But in Meghalaya, it seems we will be able to retain the state."
Ashok Gehlot, Congress
NDTV's Alok Pandey sends us this photo of Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma tracking election results on his mobile
The BJP is set to end the two-decade run of the CPM's Manik Sarkar as Tripura Chief Minister. The party and its new regional partner Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party have also pulled ahead in Nagaland and will form government if they hold on to current leads. In Meghalaya, the ruling Congress is leading but could fall short of a majority and is scrambling to try and ensure that the BJP does not manage to gather regional allies for a post-poll alliance to form government.
Meghalaya Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma wins from both Ampati and Songsok constituencies, Election Commission sources say.
"Tripura is a historic win for us. Overturning a 20-year Left government is an unprecedented achievement for us. There are no prospects for Congress anywhere in the north east except in Meghalaya."
BJP's Ram Madhav to NDTV
BJP and ally IPFT surge ahead of the Left Front in Tripura, lead in 37 seats out of 54 for which trends available: EC sources
"Wait for the results, we are confident we will cross the half-way mark (in Meghalaya). The BJP is sending its leaders over there for some 'shopping'. The shameless use of money power is remarkable. Gujarat is the only state where the BJP has returned to power. The trends in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are very clear."
Pawan Khera, Congress
Scenes outside a counting centre in Shillong
The BJP campaigned aggressively in Tripura, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressing four rallies in which he urged people to pick "HIRA (H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways) instead of Manik", using a word play between
hira (diamond) and
manik (gem).
The biggest story in the northeast election - the first of a series of elections this year - is the end of Left's two-decade rule and four-time Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's almost impenetrable fortress in Tripura.
"We will wait for the final results, but we believe we will form the government in Tripura with 40-plus seats. PM Modi has had a lot to do with the verdict. He addressed four rallies and regularly monitored election preparation. Our party president (Amit Shah) was also very focused on this election and spent a lot of time here."
Ram Madhav, BJP
"In politics it (horse-trading) is a reality but unfortunate. The main issue is the (Naga) Peace Accord, which needs to be resolved."
Neiphiu Rio, NDPP
"We will retain Meghalaya. Development politics will win, divisive politics of the BJP will lose."
Radhika Khera, Congress
Holi celebrations continue for these BJP workers in Agartala, Tripura
"It will be a landslide victory in Tripura. After one hour it will prove to be a tsunami. We will form the government with two-thirds majority. This is thanks to master-strategist Amit Shah, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ram Madhav. PM Modi's four rallies in this small state also helped us a lot."
Sunil Deodhar, BJP
The BJP, neck and neck with the ruling CPM for most of the morning as votes are counted in Tripura, has now pulled ahead. It hopes to end the two-decade run of the Left party's Manik Sarkar as chief minister.
Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya for almost 8 years, faces big challenge from PA Sangma's NPP and BJP
From NDTV's Sunetra Choudhury: Senior leaders of Congress headed to Shillong
"We need to wait for the third and fourth rounds of counting. It's too early to jump to conclusions... People of Tripura will stop the communal campaign of the BJP."
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat A dejected CPM supporter outside party office in Agartala
"Meghalaya is a candidate-driven state, hence candidates win despite shifting parties. Congress is bringing up beef ban. But we are not here to change eating habits. I won't be disappointed till the last vote is counted. In Nagaland, the results so far are on postal ballots. The BJP is No. 2 in several seats."
Nalin Kohli, BJP
In Tripura, where the exit polls said BJP would get two-thirds majority, the Left is holding the lead for now.
People come out to watch early trends being projected at a public ground in Shillong, Meghalaya.
"The enormous attention PM Modi, Amit Shah are paying to the northeast is extraordinary. I have never seen a national political party pay so much attention to the region," BJP's north east strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma told NDTV.
People come out on the streets in Shillong, Meghalaya, to see results of the assembly election at a polo ground where early trends are being projected.
The BJP and the ruling CPM are neck and neck in very early rounds of counting of votes in Tripura; the BJP hopes to end the two-decade run of the Left party's Manik Sarkar as chief minister.
People at a polo ground in Shillong, Meghalaya where counting trends are being projected (Photo: ANI)
Congress supporters come out on the streets in Shillong, Meghalaya. Counting of votes is on.
"I am sure Tripura will have our own majority and Nagaland will have our majority with our allied partner. But Meghalaya, we have to talk among parties and install a non-Congress government."
BJP's north east strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma
First leads: BJP alliance ahead in 4 seats in Tripura, Congress leads in 1 in Meghalaya, NDPP-BJP has 1 in Nagaland
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar leads in his constituency
Vikram Chandra and his panel of experts in the studio
One of the main issues in the Nagaland election is the Framework Agreement that the centre had signed with Naga groups. The groups have demanded that the centre take the Naga Accord to a logical conclusion.
In Meghalaya, if the National People's Party manages to win substantial seats, and if the BJP wins decently, then speculation is that the BJP could give support from outside.
The Nagaland assembly election is seen as a battle between Chief Minister T R Zeliang of the NPF and his predecessor Neiphiu Rio, once his colleague but who has now launched his own party the NDPP.
It's a crucial election for the Left party which is now in power only in Tripura and Kerala after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ended its three-decade rule in West Bengal seven years ago.
Election officials at a counting centre in Agartala, Tripura.
Counting of votes has begun in all the three states -- Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
Election officials arrive at a counting centre in Nagaland. Counting of votes began at 8 am.
"If we win Tripura and if we can regain Nagaland, and have a government in Meghalaya, then our expansion in the north east will be complete, barring Mizoram. Today will be a big day."
BJP's north east strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma
Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said counting for the 59 of the 60 assembly constituencies will start at 80 am at 20 centres, and by the noon all results are expected to be declared.
As Tripura waits for results of the assembly election, the state election department said it has taken all steps to make the counting process smooth. Chief Electoral Officer Sriram Taranikanti said strict security is in place at all the 20 counting centres spread across Tripura.
Police personnel guard a counting centre in Agartala, Tripura.
The BJP contested 20 seats in Nagaland, and left the rest to its ally - the NDPP, led by three-time Chief Minister Neipheu Rio, who formed the party after quitting NPF last year. The powerful NPF snapped its 15-year-old ties with the BJP, which decided to go with Mr Rio, who had the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. But there is room for a post-poll alliance.
In Nagaland, the BJP contested 20 seats, leaving the remaining 40 seats to its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party or NDPP that's headed by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio. "NDPP-BJP will go beyond 30 seats. There are some smaller parties which has given some kind of support to us. I have already spoken to some of them. They will also come with us," union minister Kiren Rijiju said.
As Nagaland and Meghalaya, Tripura also has 60 assembly constituencies, out of which 20 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 10 for Scheduled Castes and the rest for general candidates. The number of candidates who contested the Tripura assembly election 2018 was 297. Of these, 20 are women.
Meghalaya has 60 assembly constituencies, out of which 55 constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and the rest are for general candidates. A total of 370 candidates contested the Meghalaya assembly election 2018. Of these, 338 are men and 32 are women.
After 54 years of statehood and 12 assembly elections, Nagaland is yet to see any woman representative in the assembly.
There are 60 seats in the assemblies of the three states. In Nagaland, 59 constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one for a general candidate. The number of candidates who contested the Nagaland assembly election 2018 was 196. Of these, five were women.