Nagaland recorded 75 per cent voters turnout on Tuesday, whereas the polling in Meghalaya stood at 67 per cent, with hundreds still lined up to cast ballots at the end of voting hours, the Election Commission said.
Tuesday's election in Nagaland was marred by a clash between supporters of the ruling Naga People's Front and the BJP in Zunheboto district, in which one person was shot dead and two persons injured.
The 2013 Assembly elections turnout in Nagaland was 90.57 per cent. Meghalaya last time saw 89 per cent turnout. In both the states, voting is taking place in 59 assembly constituencies.The results will be declared on March 3.
Both BJP and Congress are trying hard to claim win in the two states. Following the formation of its governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the
BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the Northeast. The Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland, is contesting only 18 seats, two less than the BJP.
Earlier in the day, violent clashes erupted in Nagaland between supporters of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the newly-floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). One person was killed in the incident.
Here are the live updates as polling begins in Meghalaya and Nagaland.Feb 27, 2018 18:20 (IST)
Over 67 per cent votes were polled till 4 pm in Meghalaya Assembly election today, an election official said. "Till 4 pm, over 67 per cent of the 18.09 lakh voters in the state cast their votes. Polling was peaceful," Chief Election Officer F R Kharkongor said. He said polling percentage is likely to go up as long queues were reported in a number of polling stations even after the polling was scheduled to close at 4 pm.
Feb 27, 2018 18:16 (IST)
Till 5pm 75 per cent voters' turnout was recorded in Nagaland till 5pm. The turnout might increase as voters are still waiting outside several booths in the state. In 2013, the turnout was at 91.6 per cent.
Feb 27, 2018 16:46 (IST)
Congress Lok Sabha MP and working president of Meghalaya unit, Vincent H Pala and state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh cast their votes at Sutnga-Saipung and Khliehriat constituencies in Jaintia Hills region.
Feb 27, 2018 16:29 (IST)
Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad has exercised his franchise at the Oakland polling station under North Shillong assembly constituency. Former union minister and NPP candidate Agatha K Sangma, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh of the Congress, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy of the UDP and HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also exercised their franchise.
Feb 27, 2018 16:19 (IST)
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma voiced confidence that the Congress will retain power in Meghalaya, news agency IANS reported. Mr Sangma said his party will cross the magic-figure of 31 in the 60-member state assembly. "I have full faith on the people of the state. I believe that they have full confidence on the Congress party. We will cross the magic number," Mr Sangma told journalists after casting his vote at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati assembly constituency.
Feb 27, 2018 15:52 (IST)
Till 3pm, 67 per cent voters turnout was recorded in Nagaland. In Meghalaya, the turnout was at 43 per cent.
Feb 27, 2018 15:41 (IST)
The clash between the supporters of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the newly-floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) took place at 11.10 am in the Akuluto constituency of Zunheboto district, Nagaland's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said. The polling process was not disturbed due to the clash, he said. The Akuluto seat is witnessing a straight contest between incumbent parliamentary secretary and NPF candidate K Khekaho Assumi and BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi. NDPP is the ally of BJP in the state, news agency PTI reported.
Feb 27, 2018 14:32 (IST)
One person died and two injured after clashes between groups of Naga People's Front and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party near a polling booth in Nagaland's Akuluto.
Feb 27, 2018 14:30 (IST)
The polling turnout in Nagaland swiftly climbed to 56 per cent by 1 pm, while Meghalaya recorded 31.4 per cent turnout.
Feb 27, 2018 12:01 (IST)
Due to some malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, voting got delayed at some booths in Meghalaya.
Feb 27, 2018 11:33 (IST)
"A handmade crude bomb was lobbed at the polling booth at around 5.45 am, in which one village council member, Yanlon, suffered minor injuries in the leg," Nagaland's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said after a blast was reported about an hour before voting began. Polling is underway at the booth.
There were no other reports of violence from anywhere in the state till 10 am, Mr Sinha said.
Feb 27, 2018 11:23 (IST)
By 11 am, the voter turnout in Nagaland rose to 39 per cent, but polling stations in Meghalaya received only 20 per cent voters.
Feb 27, 2018 09:31 (IST)
While Nagaland saw 17 per cent voter turnout, 16 per cent voters turned up in Meghalaya till 9 am.
Feb 27, 2018 09:12 (IST)
"We expect that polling will finish smoothly & we will get absolute majority as per voice of the people. We hope peace will prevail in the state & we will move for Naga political solution," Nagaland CM TR Zeliang was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.