Meghalaya witnessed a total voter turnout of 74.32 percent while 83.36 percent of Nagaland voters had their fingers inked on Monday, 27 February, according to the Election Commission.
Voting got underway in the northeastern states at 7 am and went on till 4 pm. The counting of votes for both states, as well as Tripura, will be held on 2 March.
The Election Commission of India had deployed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) troops, in addition to the police, as part of the security arrangements in the two states.
Out of 3,419 polling stations in Meghalaya, 640 have been classified as 'vulnerable' while 323 are said to be 'critical' polling stations. Over 84 polling stations have been placed under both categories.
Meanwhile, bypolls were also held on the same day in Jharkhand's Ramgarh, West Bengal's Sagardighi, and Tamil Nadu's Erode (East). The Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by-elections are a result of the deaths of sitting MLAs, while the Congress legislator from Ramgarh was disqualified.
Meghalaya CM Registers Vote
National People's Party (NPP) president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma cast his vote at a polling station in Tura, that falls under the state's West Garo Hills district.
"People are coming out in large numbers to vote. This is good for democracy. I've not see this kind of voter turnout in the past. We are confident that it'll be in our favour," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
The NPP faces a tough contest with the Trinamool Congress, especially in the Garo Hills region, from where Conrad Sangma and former CM Mukul Sangma are contesting.
Nagaland CM Casts Vote
Four-time Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio exercised his franchise at a polling station in the state's Kohima district on Monday. Rio is contesting in the elections from the Northern Angami seat in the district.
"Voting is not just a right but a responsibility," the CM face of the Nationalist Progressive Democratic Party (NDPP) tweeted.
PM Modi's Appeal
In view of the Assembly elections, Prime Minister Modi appealed for voters in both states to exercise their franchise on Monday.
"Urging the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland, particularly the young and first time voters, to vote in record numbers today," he tweeted. Home Minister Amit Shah also appealed for peace as voting kicked off in Nagaland.
Meghalaya: Fight for 59 Assembly Constituencies
59 out of 60 Assembly constituencies are in the fray in Meghalaya on Monday. The only constituency where elections won't be held is East Khasi hill's Sohiong Assembly constituency, due to the death of United Democratic Party leader HDR Lyngdoh.
The fate of 369 candidates will be decided at 3,419 polling stations.
This year, 36 women from Meghalaya are contesting the elections, an increase from the 32 women that contested the elections in 2018.
Key Parties: 13 political parties are battling it out in the state Assembly elections. This includes key parties in the region such as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma's National People's Party, which is contesting 57 seats.
Other key parties in the state include the United Democratic Party, Hill State People’s Democratic Party, Republican Party of India, and the Voice of the People Party.
National parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and Trinamool Congress will also be contesting the Assembly seats, as will 44 independent candidates.
Key issues in the state include unemployment and development.
Nagaland: NPF Takes On BJP-NDPP Alliance
In Nagaland as well, 59 out of 60 Assembly seats are up for grabs, where the fate of 183 candidates will be decided at 2,351 polling booths.
BJP's Kazheto Kinimi has already won uncontested from the Akuluto constituency after the opposing Congress candidate withdrew from the elections.
Key Parties: The key parties in Nagaland include Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio's Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which is contesting the elections in an alliance with the BJP, in a 40-20 seat tie-up.
The alliance will be up against the Naga People's Front. Other prominent parties fighting in the elections are Congress and the Communist Party of India.
In its 60 years of statehood, Nagaland has never elected a woman to its Legislative Assembly.
In the upcoming elections in the state, there are only four women in the fray out of 183 candidates. In the last Assembly elections in 2018, the state saw five woman candidates contest the elections.
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