The BJP Parliamentary Board today appointed Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Jual Oram as central observers for Tripura, where the saffron party along with its ally won a two-third majority. 

A man shot himself in front of the White House on Saturday, a law enforcement source told CNN. 

Accepting the Tripura mandate, Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday charged the BJP with using money and muscle power to win the state assembly elections. 

The Nagaland faction of the Janata Dal-United on Saturday announced its decision to support the Bharatiya Janata Party in the formation of a stable government in the state.

In Tripura, the capacity of a new inexperienced BJP government will soon be put to the test. In Meghalaya and Nagaland, the core issues for the new governments will revolve on service delivery and infrastructure improvement. 

Downplaying the BJP's victory in Tripura, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the saffron party will never win West Bengal and Odisha, and dubbed it as "a cockroach dreaming of becoming a peacock by putting on its feathers". 

As TDP's March 5 deadline for the NDA government to get Andhra Pradesh its 'special status' nears an end and promises remain unfulfilled, the party has declared an all-out war against the BJP-led Centre.  

Dismissing allegations of corruption in the contract for 36 Rafale jets, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman today asserted there can be no comparison between the scam-hit Bofors gun deal and the procurement of the fighter aircraft.

"Do not even compare it (Rafale deal) with Bofors. There is no scam here," Sitharaman told reporters when asked whether Rafale deal will go the Bofors way.

Sitharaman said she would welcome if the Congress raises the issue of procurement of Rafale jets when the budget session of the Parliament reconvenes from Monday.

"I will welcome it (if Congress raises it)," she said.

The Congress has been ramping up attack on the government over the Rafale issue, claiming that the deal negotiated under its rule was much cheaper then the contract signed by the Modi government to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets from France at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore.

Official sources claimed the original deal to procure 126 fighter jet could not go through during the UPA rule despite reaching the final stage due to an intervention by the then defence minister A K Antony as he felt something wrong in the process.

They said the government selected Rafale for procurement of the 36 fighter jets not because of the price arrived at during the UPA tenure but due to the "overarching" assessment of the jet.

There were allegations that pay-offs were made in procurement of the artillery guns from Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors in late 1980s during the then Congress government. The allegations and its subsequent political ramifications had severely crippled the Indian Army's procurement of artillery guns.

Alleging corruption, the Congress has been asking the government whether the per aircraft price of Rafale, according to international bids opened on December 12, 2012, comes to $80.95 million (Rs 526.1 crore) as against the Modi government's per aircraft negotiated price of $241.66 million (Rs 1,570.8 crore) as per current exchange rates.

-- PTI

After the BJP swept to power in Tripura ending the Left Front's 25-year-rule, state party chief Biplab Kumar Deb said he was ready to take on the mantle of chief minister, but a decision on it would be taken by the party's Parliamentary Board.

The BJP Parliamentary Board, the highest decision-making body of the party, is meeting in New Delhi to decide on the future chief minister, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said.

"I am ready to take the responsibility. I will not run away from taking the responsibility," he told reporters here when asked if he would accept the task of chief ministership.

Deb, a gym instructor-turned-politician, thanked the people of Tripura for their overwhelming support and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah with the party's showing.

I have already been given a bigger responsibility, the party's state presidentship, which I have been fulfilling to the best of my ability," he said.

He said the people of Tripura favourably responded to the BJP's call to root out the CPI-M government, which has been ruling the state for more than two decades.

"People responded favourably to our call call 'Chalo Paltai' (let's change)," he said.

-- PTI

PM Modi addresses party workers the BJP HQ in Delhi.


"Be it Kerala, Bengal or Karnataka, the way two dozen workers were murdered there... when they can't fight face-to-face they stooped to this. Still we maintained silence. When we take action they cry 'vendetta'. This isn't vendetta but 'mandate-a -- a step for the betterment of nation.


"People spreading rumors and confusion were given the best reply democratically. Congress party ka kad itna chhota pehle kabhi nahi hua hoga jitna aaj hua hai.


"But all parties, including BJP, will have to be alert and take care that Congress culture doesn't seep in somehow.


"When I toured the country on election rallies and saw how much love I received i promised them that I would return their love with interest -- development."


The PM also congratulated security forces for ensuring peaceful polls in the three north eastern States.

"I do not have the figures but I think the elected team in Tripura is the youngest ever team. Some of them were even scared that would be rejected on the grounds of their age. Such young candidates successfully won people's confidence.


"North East ke logon ko ye lagta tha ki Dilli unse door hai, lekin humne sthiti ye paida ki, ki Dilli aaj khud chal kar North East ke darawaaze pe aa gayi. People of Northeast thought that Delhi was very far from them. We brought Delhi to their doorstep.


"I have known Amit Shah as a student, and when I see him securing successive victories you cannot imagine how proud I am."


Image: PM Modi closes eyes in homage to BJP workers slain  in the north-east, Kerala, West Bengal.

PM Modi resumes his speech only to pause it again.

Paying tribute to BJP workers who lost their lives, by observing silence for a minute, he said, "Innocent BJP workers were killed. We take this opportunity to remember their sacrifice."

Resuming his speech, the PM said victory and defeat is common in democracy but there should be a sportsmanship spirit. (The CPM has said it will approach the EC over the counting of Dhanpur seat where Manik Sarkar was contesting, citing irregularities)

Alluding to the CPM loss he said, "When the sun sets it is red in color and when it rises it is saffron. All the colours have turned saffron today."


"Yeh loktantra ki taakat hai ki garib se garib aur anpadh ne bhi chot ka jawaab vote se diya. Election analysts in India will have to understand the journey from 'no one to won' shunya se shikhar tak'. The North East has today come forward to lead India on the path to development."

PM Narendra Modi at the BJP party HQ in Delhi. BJP president speaking ahead of the PM said, "I would like to tell PM Modi that the path he is treading upon, 11 Crore members are standing behind him on that path. Aap aage badhiye, 2019 mein isse bhi bada mandate milne wala hai."

PM Modi begins speaking but stops, saying he will wait for the aazaan to get over.

He thanked BJP workers and Amit Shah for the victory.

Caught on camera: Congress leader Mukul Wasnik carrying a paper with seat tallies and what appears to be numbers for government formation in Meghalaya. Meghalaya appeared set to have a hung Assembly.

National People's Party has won 18 seats, leading in 1;
NDA allies HSPDP wins two seat while UDP won six seats. Both contested the election separately.
BJP has won two seats in the state
Congress has won 21 seats.
NCP has won one seat
KHNAM wins one seat and PDF won 4 and Independents won 3 seats.


Senior party leader Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and Mukul Wasnik are in Shillong. After the Assembly elections in Manipur and Goa threw hung verdicts last year, the BJP was able to form governments there with the help of smaller parties and Independents.

Dr RK Satapathy is an astute observer of politics in India's north east. Dr Satapathy -- who has taught politics for 33 years in Mizoram and NEHU, Shillong -- has been involved in several electoral studies in the north eastern states. He led research scholars conducting the People's Pulse pre-poll survey in the Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura organised by the Hyderabad-based research organisation.

"It was as if the Congress was not very keen in fighting these battles," he tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih in a telephone interview. Do read


Image: Celebrations in Tripura after the BJP's win in the state. Pic courtesy:@sunildeodhar

BJP President Amit Shahji was camping in Tripura and worked on all possible micro, macro strategies to make this victory possible. This symbolises revolt of the proletariats against these communists.Tribals suffered at the hands of Manik Sarkaar: BJP strategist Rajat Sethi on the Tripura polls.

Meet Sunil Deodhar, the man who changed the BJP's fate in Tripura


Image: Sunil Deodhar's Twitter account.

BJP president Amit Shah takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi's vacation to Italy on th eve of the north-east results: Mujhe WhatsApp pe message aaya hai ki Italy mein chunaav hai.


In Tripura, the BJP and its ally IPFT were secured a majority in Tripura having together won 35 seats in the 60-member House. The combine was leading eight seats. They were leading in 15 more. Elections were held in the state for 59 seats due to the death of a CPI-M candidate.


In Nagaland, the BJP and its ally NDPP have won 14 seats and are leading in 13. The ruling Naga People's Front, with which the BJP parted ways just before the elections, has won 17 seats and was leading in 8 others in the 60-member Assembly. In Nagaland too, elections were held for only 59 seats as NDPP leaders Neiphiu Rio was declared elected unopposed.


Meghalaya appeared set to have a hung Assembly. Shah ruled out the possibility of the BJP, whose NDA partner National People's Party has won 18 seats, leading in one seat, engaging in horse-trading in Meghalaya. The two NDA allies had, however, contested the elections separately. BJP has won two seats in the state where the Congress has won 20 seats so far and was ahead in one. "Where is the question of 'tod-phod' (horse-trading). The Congress does not have a majority there," he said.

BJP-IPFT combine wins majority in Tripura by securing 30 seats. Alliance ahead in 13 other seats: EC

BJP president Amit Shah is addressing a press conference at the party's headquarters in Delhi. Highlights...


"In 2014, Narendra Modiji had said western side of the nation has developed a lot, but the same has not reached the eastern side yet. He immediately started his 'Act East Policy'. I believe this is the victory of his policies, stamped by the three states of the north-east.


"The BJP might have a clear majority in Tripura, but we will also include other members of our alliance in the cabinet. We will march towards Karnataka, with this massive victory with us.


"Jahan tak Left ka sawaal hai, ye siddh ho chuka hai ki Left desh ke kisi bhi kshetra ke liye right nahi ha. As far as the Left party goes, it's confirmed that the Left is not right for any region of India.


"Even if we don't count Meghalaya, BJP and NDA has governance in 21 states across the nation today. Mandate after mandate has been in the favor of Narendra Modijii and his government.


"Jab tak Odisha, West Bengal aur Kerala mein BJP nahi aa jaati tab tak party ka golden period shuru nahi hoga. Karnataka mein to hum jeetenge hi. Victory after victory is a positive sign. This has boosted our confidence even more for 2019."

The Congress has rushed senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath to Shillong.

Speaking to ANI, Patel said, "We have a clear majority in Meghalaya. We have a setback in Tripura in Nagaland, we will have to work on that.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh's comments on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, "Absolutely baseless, is it a crime for someone to visit his own grandmother? It has become a profession for him to make unnecessary comments."

Giriraj Singh said Gandhi was a non-serious leader and had abandoned his party after the Congress president had left for Italy to visit his grandmother on Thursday.


On Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement on Manik Sarkar, Ahmed said, "He is an honest person. How can they say where does he need to take shelter? What does it mean? Do they want to terrorize him?" 

The leads and wins as of 16:15 pm in the three north-east states.


The BJP and its ally IPFT are all set to end the Left Front's 25-year-rule in Tripura with a strong showing in the Assembly polls, while Meghalaya seemed to be headed for a hung House. In Nagaland, a close finish was on the cards, according to available trends.


Tripura: The BJP-Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) alliance captured 23 seats in Tripura and was leading in 20 seats, according to an EC source. The BJP won 17 seats and IPFT won six. The saffron party was leading in 18 seats and the IPFT was ahead in two seats. The CPI(M) won eight seats and was leading in eight seats.


Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was ahead in Dhanpur seat by 5000 votes while the BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb won the Banamlipur seat by 9500 votes. Election in 59 seats for the 60-member Assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate.


In Meghalaya -- Congress won 13 seats and was leading in another eight constituencies. Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma won from both Ampati and Songsak constituencies, EC sources said. National People's Party captured eight seats and was ahead in 11. The BJP won two seats in Meghalaya. The United Democratic Party captured five seats and was ahead in one other constituency. The People's Democratic Front won three seats and was leading in one. The Nationalist Congress Party was leading in one, while the Hill State People's Democratic Party bagged two seats. The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement also won one seat. Independent candidates won two seats and were leading in one constituency.


According to the results and trends available from 56 of the 59 constituencies in Nagaland, the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) captured 12 seats and was leading in 11 constituencies. BJP ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) won three seats and leading in 14 seats, while the BJP was leading in four constituencies and won seven. The National People's Party was ahead in three seats and the JD(U) in one. Independents were leading in one seat.


Commenting on the trends in three states, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that they indicated a new political direction which would have an effect on national politics as well.

PM Narendra Modi tweets: People of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura have spoken! I thank the people of these states for supporting the good governance agenda and 'Act East Policy' of @BJP4India & our valued allies. We remain committed to working towards fulfilling the dreams & aspirations of the people.

"The victory of @BJP4Tripura is not an ordinary electoral victory. This journey from 'Shunya' to 'Shikhar' has been made possible due to a solid development agenda and the strength of our organisation. I bow to every BJP Karyakarta for working assiduously on the ground for years."


The BJP is leading in 43 constituencies in the Left Front ruled Tripura as trends are available for 59 seats. The CPI(M) led Left Front is leading in 16 seats. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar (Dhanpur) and PWD Minister
Badal Chowdhury (Hrishyamukh) are leading.


BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb (Banamlipur) and party MLA Sudip Roy Burman (Agartala) are leading. Election in 59 seats for the 60-member Assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) concedes defeat in Tripura.

Here's the statement: Verdict of the people of Tripura will lead to the formation of a BJP-IPFT alliance govt in the state. After 25 years in govt, Left front has been voted out of office. BJP has, apart from other factors, utilised massive deployment of money and other resources to influence the elections. BJP was able to consolidate all the anti-Left votes virtually appropriating the erstwhile main opposition, Congress.


"Politbureau thanks the 45% of the voters who extended support to CPI(M) & Left Front. We assure the people of Tripura that it will continue to champion the cause of all sections of the working people & uphold tribal-non tribal unity."


CPM: 16 (wins 8, leads 8), BJP+ wins 21, leads 22  

Communist Party of India (Marxist) concedes defeat in Tripura.

Here's the statement: Verdict of the people of Tripura will lead to the formation of a BJP-IPFT alliance govt in the state. After 25 years in govt, Left front has been voted out of office. BJP has, apart from other factors, utilised massive deployment of money and other resources to influence the elections. BJP was able to consolidate all the anti-Left votes virtually appropriating the erstwhile main opposition, Congress.


"Politbureau thanks the 45% of the voters who extended support to CPI(M) & Left Front. We assure the people of Tripura that it will continue to champion the cause of all sections of the working people & uphold tribal-non tribal unity."


CPM: 16 (wins 8, leads 8), BJP+ wins 21, leads 22  

BJP president Amit Shah, in his Twitter post, thanked the people of Tripura for their support to the BJP. "I thank brothers and sisters of Tripura for their massive support to BJP. This is the victory of PM @narendramodi's politics of development and his commitment to the welfare of North-Eastern region of India," he tweeted.


The BJP led a massive campaign in Tripura, which had been under the Left rule for more than 20 years.


The BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people for poribortan (change) in their election campaign, across the state.


Shah also congratulated his party leaders and workers for orchestrating the party's historic victory in the Communist stronghold. "Congratulations to Shri @rammadhavbjp ji, Shri @Sunil_Deodhar ji, Shri @himantabiswa ji, Shri @BjpBiplab ji and I also applaud the hard work & dedication of our karyakartas of @BJP4Tripura unit which has made this historic win a reality," he said.

As the BJP is heading to form a government in the Left bastion, Tripura, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that country has now become 'Vaampanth Mukt'."


In a way, the entire northeast is now with the BJP. Initially, we used to say 'Congress Mukt Bharat' now I think we can say 'Vaampanth Mukt Bharat' also," Ravi Shankar Prasad told ANI.


"This is a historic win. This is massive development in the politics of India," Prasad said.Prasad also added that the result will affect Kerala politics too and said, "Leftists first lost West Bengal now they have been dethroned from Tripura. This will clearly affect the politics of Kerala."


On a similar note, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar termed the victory as a landmark and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for the massive win.


"BJP's victory in Tripura is a landmark in the political history of India because it was unthinkable. This has happened because of the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah," Prakash Javadekar told ANI.

Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF candidate TR Zeliang wins against NDPP's Iherie Ndang: EC sources.

As the Congress Party is leading with a low margin in the Meghalaya Assembly election mid trend, the BJP is mulling forging an alliance with other political parties.


The Meghalaya in-charge of BJP, Nalin Kohli told ANI that an anti-Congress alliance is possible in the state, given that the National People's Party (NPP), United Democratic Party (UDP), and the BJP -all part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre- together have an upper hand over the Congress, as per the latest trends.


"In Meghalaya, the vote is clearly against the Congress because if you see it from the larger perspective, the anti-Congress vote goes to the NPP, the UDP, BJP, and all of us are part of NDA. Now it is up to the national leaders to decide, but there can be a possibility of a post-poll alliance," Kohli said.


As per the latest trends, the Congress Party is struggling to retain its government in Tripura, as the party's victory on two seats and lead on 23 seats is being closely followed by the NPP that has won one seat and is leading on 16 seats.

In Delhi, BJP President Amit Shah arrives at the party headquarters as the party takes a decisive lead and is more than likely to form the government in Tripura. 

The National People's Party (NPP) today exuded confidence that the party would form the next government in Meghalaya saying the people of the Northeastern state were looking for a change. As the results for the February 27 elections indicated a hung house for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, NPP President Conrad Sangma said his party would be able to form the next government with the help of other like-minded parties.


"We are hopeful that we will be able to form the government. People are fed up with the corrupt Congress government and looking for a change," he told PTI.


Sangma, son of veteran leader late P A Sangma, said results were still coming but the NPP will be in a position to form the government with the help of other parties.


Elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly were held on February 27. As per the available trends for Meghalaya, the Congress won nine seats and was leading in 11 others, the NPP has won three seats and was leading in 16 seats, the BJP was leading in two seats and smaller parties and independents won six seats and leading in 12 others.


After the Assembly elections last year threw hung verdicts in Manipur and Goa, the BJP was able to form the governments there with the help of smaller parties and independents.


Facing similar situation, the BJP has asked Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to rush to Meghalaya for holding talks with smaller parties and independents. The Congress has also rushed senior leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath to Shillong. The Congress has been in power in Meghalaya since 2003 while the incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has been in the helm of affairs since 2010. -- PTI


Conrad Sangma, the Wharton grad. Read the Rediff.com's 2013 interview here.

In Kerala, the only state where a Left government is in power, celebrates the BJP's near victory in Tripura. BJP workers celebrate outside the party office in Trivandrum. 

Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta tweets: BJP has gone from 0 to 42% in Tripura. Cong has slid from 45% to 2. There lies he nub of the story. Cong's incompetence even beats BJP's brilliance.


So, where the Congress president?

Rahul Gandhi tweeted a happy Holi message on Thursday and announced that he would be meeting his nani (Sonia Gandhi's mother).

@OfficeOfRG tweeted: My Nani is 93. Shes the kindest soul ever. This Holi weekend, Im going to surprise her! I cant wait to give her a hug.... #HappyHoli to all of you. Have a joyful celebration. 

BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav and State President Biplab Kumar Deb amidst celebrations by party workers in Agartala where the BJP is poised to win in the state. Biplab Deb is the presumptive CM of the state.

Trends: BJP+ 41, Left 18 

If BJP chief Amit Shah is a student of post graduation then Congress president Rahul Gandhi is still in nursery class, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today while comparing the two leaders' capability in politics.


Sarma was in the Congress for nearly two decades and a minister in the then Tarun Gogoi-led Congress governments for nearly 15 years before joining the BJP in 2015.


"I would say, if Amit Shah is a student of post graduate in politics, Rahul Gandhi is still in nursery class," he told reporters in Agartala when asked to compare Shah and Gandhi's style of functioning.


After the Assam Assembly elections in 2016, he became education and health minister in Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's BJP-led government in the state.


Sarma had earlier also criticised Rahul for his style of functioning alleging the Congress president was not a serious politician and "he was busy feeding his dog" when the Assam's then Congress government, where he was part, wanted to discuss urgent issues of the state. -- PTI

The interview Manik Sarkar gave us in 2016. Do read

Outgoing Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar can take shelter in West Bengal, Kerala or neighbouring Bangladesh as the BJP is going to form the next government in the state, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said today.


"Manik Sarkar has just three options before him. He can go to West Bengal, where the CPI-M still has some presence. He can go to Kerala, where the party is in power and will rule for three more years or he can go to neighbouring Bangladesh," Sarma told reporters in Agartala when asked about his comments on Sarkar during an election rally. The BJP leader had kicked up a row by reportedly saying that the Tripura chief minister would be sent to Bangladesh after the assembly elections in the state.


Sarma reportedly made the remark at an election rally in Dhanpur, Sarkar's constituency, while criticising the state government over the alleged deteriorating law and order situation and cross-border crimes.


The 69-year-old chief minister has governed Tripura since 1998. He is a politburo member of CPI-M and has been ruling the state for the fourth consecutive time.


Elections in 59 seats, out of the 60-member Tripura Assembly, were held on February 18. Election in one seat was countermanded due to the death of the CPI-M candidate.


The BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura were leading in 41 out of the 59 constituencies whose trends were available. -- PTI

Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad: In a way the entire north east is now with the BJP. Initially we used to say "Congress mukt Bharat', now I think we can say 'Vaampanth Mukt Bharat" also.

The BJP Parliamentary Board will meet this evening to decide on the future Chief Minister of Tripura, where the party is likely to form a government, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said today.

News reports however says that Biplab Deb who is the state president of the BJP, is likely to be the new CM.

"Our Parliamentary Board (the party's highest decision making body) will meet in the evening and take a call," he said at a press conference when asked who will be the BJP chief minister in Tripura. The BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) had surged ahead and established a lead in 39 constituencies, according to Election Commission sources. The majority mark in the 60 member Assembly is 31.


The BJP Parliamentary Board comprises Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari besides a few others. -- PTI

Ashok Gehlot, Congress to NDTV: "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."

The BJP and its ally surged ahead of the Left Front in Tripura establishing a lead in 40 (CPM 19) seats, while the Congress was ahead in Meghalaya, according to Election Commission sources. In Nagaland, the BJP and its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party were leading in 32 seats.

Election in 59 seats for Tripura's 60-member Assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to death of a CPI(M) candidate. The BJP was leading in 30 seats while its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) was ahead in 8 seats, according to the Election Commission.


The ruling CPI(M), which is power for the last 25 years, was ahead in 19 seats, according to the trends available. BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb and party MLA Sudip Roy Burman were leading in their respective seats of Banamlipur and Agartala.


According to trends of 58 constituencies available in Meghalaya, the ruling Congress won seven seats and was leading in 23 followed by the National People's Party (NPP) in 14.


Chief Minister Mukul Sangma registered wins from both Songsak and Ampati constituencies. While the United Democratic Party (UDP) was leading in six, the People's Democratic Front (PDF) was leading in three. The BJP was leading in 5 constituencies. The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) was leading in 2 seats while Independents were ahead in four seats. The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) was leading in one seat. Polling for 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly was held on February 27.


In Nagaland, the BJP is ahead in 15 and the NDPP in 6 seats. Trends were available for 44 seats as of 12:30 pm. The National People's Party was ahead in three seats and the JD(U) in two.  

The BJP-NDPP alliance is leading in 32 seats while the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF+) is at 24, as per trends available for 60 out 60 constituencies for the Nagaland Assembly.


Chief Minister T R Zeliang of the NPF is leading over his nearest NDPP rival Iherie Ndang by over 4500 votes from Peren constituency.


NDPP chief and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio has already been declared uncontested from Northern Angamai-II seat. The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is leading in 13 seats while its ally the BJP in five.


The National People's Party (NPP) and the Janata Dal (United) are leading in one seat each, the sources said. Voting for the 59 seats in the 60-member Assembly was held on February 27. -- PTI

Meghalaya Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma wins from both Ampati and Songsok constituencies: EC sources

The BJP will form the government after winning around 45 seats in the 60-member Tripura Assembly, Assam Minister and BJP in-charge for the state Himanta Biswa Sarma today said. The BJP and its ally Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) were leading in 43 out of the 59 constituencies whose trends were available, according to Election Commission sources.


"We will be winning 44-45 seats in Tripura. We will form the government," he told reporters.


Crediting the favourable results to the hardwork of party workers of Tripura in the last three years, Sarma said merger of Trinamool Congress' Tripura unit with the BJP was the most significant factor in the politics of the Northeastern state as it consolidated the opposition and anti-CPI-M votes.


 "People were fed up with the Manik Sarkar government which has been ruling the state for more than two decades and wanted to get rid of the CPI-M rule," he said.


The Assam education minister also said the BJP's alliance with the tribal dominated IPFT has also helped the saffron party. "Tribal votes in Tripura is around 35 per cent and they voted for the BJP lock, stock and barrel," he said. Sarma also dismissed the suggestion that the minorities, particularly the Christians in the Northeast, were against the BJP saying the community "wholeheartedly" supported the party. -- PTI

With election trends projecting that the Congress could emerge as the single-largest party in Meghalaya (27, NPP 11), the party today rushed two senior leaders to the northeastern state to explore possibilities of forming a government.


According to sources, senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Kamal Nath left for Shillong this morning to work out possible tie-ups with independents in Meghalaya to form a government there.


The Congress currently rules Meghalaya and is set to emerge as the single largest party in the state, according to trends available for most of the seats in the state. Polling for 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly was held on February 27.


The Congress's move comes in the wake of criticism in the past that the party was caught "napping' in Goa and Manipur, where despite emerging as the single-largest party it failed to form governments there.


Sources said Patel and Nath would land in Shillong post noon and will hold discussions with party leaders there, including outgoing chief minister Mukul Sangma. Meghalaya is one of the five states currently held by the Congress. the other states are Punjab, Karnataka, Mizoram and Puducherry. -- PTI 

BJP 's Ram Madhav addresses the media in Agartala. With leads --  BJP:39, Left: 20 -- the party is set to form the government in the state ousting the CPM's over two decade rule.


"This is a revolutionary result, all due to the blessings of Tripura Sundari Mata and people of the state and the hard work of PM Modi and party workers. 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.


"In Meghalaya a divided result is a possibility, we will see that a non-Congress Govt is formed there. Himanta Biswa Sarmaji is leaving for Meghalaya shortly."


Trends: BJP:41, Congress: 18

UP CM Yogi Adityanath who also campaigned for the BJP in Tripura said the party is all set for a historic win in the state. "I would like to congratulate PM Modi, Amit Shahji and our party workers. Even our performance in Nagaland and Meghalaya is historic. This is an important day in Indian politics."


The UP CM held a massive roadshow from Dharmanagar to Jubarajnagar in Tripura. 

As the counting of votes for the Nagaland Assembly election is underway, the early trends show the Bharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party alliance has been leading on 30 seats. Meanwhile, the Naga People's Front+ has been leading on 29 seats.


The counting for 59 of the 60 assembly seats in the state began at 8:00 a.m. and the results are expected by the afternoon.


The key candidates in the polls are Neiphiu Rio (NDPP), Biplap Deb (BJP), TR Zeliang (NPF), Yanthungo Patton (BJP), K L Chishi (BJP) and Kewekhape Therie (INC).


Nagaland went to polls on February 27, in which 75 percent voting was recorded.


Image: Neiphiu Rio (NDPP) was declared winner last month as his lone rival Chupfuo Angami of ruling Naga Peoples Front opted out.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah Shah made a host of promises to the people of the state, including smart phones for youths, implementation of the seventh pay commission for government employees from the next day of his party being voted to power and action against chit fund scam accused. Shah had said a BJP government will give employment to every household.


The BJP is contesting 51 out of the 60 assembly seats, while its ally Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) is fighting on nine seats.

BJP workers celebrate in Agartala as trends show the party leading in Tripura. 

In Meghalaya, the Congress was leading in 23 seats followed by the National People's Party in 15 seats, Others (United Democratic Party and the People's Democratic Front) 15 and the BJP in 6 seats, as per the available trends. Independents were also leading in two seats. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma (pictured) was leading from Songsak. Polling for 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly was held on February 27.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front was trailing the BJP and its ally in Tripura with early trends from 59/59 seats indicating that the Left was ahead in 24 seats while the saffron party was leading in 35 constituencies. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was leading from the Dhanpur constituency.


BJP state president Biplab Kumar Deb and party MLA Sudip Roy Burman were leading in their respective seats of Banamlipur and Agartala.


Election in 59 seats for the 60-member Assembly was held on February 18. Polling was countermanded in one seat due to the death of a CPI(M) candidate. 

Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel, Mukul Wasnik head to Shillong (Meghalaya). 

Agartala: BJP workers celebrate as trends show the party leading in Tripura election 2018.

But the leads have already changed: Left: 30, BJP: 28

The trends in all three states point to a new political direction. It will have an effect on national politics as well. We are confident of forming govt in all three states: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home.

Rijiju said the BJP's internal assessment for Tripura is that it will win at least 36 to 42 seats. The cut-off mark is 31.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the former Congress leader and now the BJP's chief strategist in the north-east, says, "Trends in Tripura are encouraging; I am hopeful and confident that the BJP will form the govt in Tripura."

Sarma had orchestrated the BJP's magnificent win in Assam and is the party's main strategist in the northeast. 

Brinda Karat, CPI on the Tripura Election: We are very confident, let more rounds of counting complete, our leads are going to get much bigger.

Right now, the BJP-NDPP alliance and the Left Front are neck-and-neck, leading in 29 seats each.

Leads so far...

Tripura
BJP+ 29
LEFT  29
OTHERS 1



Nagaland
NPF 31
NDPP+BJP 24
CONG 1
OTHERS 2


Meghalaya
CONG 24
NPP 11
BJP 5
OTHERS 14


This is what the exit polls had said:

Tripura would be a close contest between the BJP and the Left Front. The leads so far, support that.


Meghalaya where the Congress is in power, the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll shows that the National People's Party is set to gain with 23-27 seats; the CVoter exit poll predicts a close finish, with the Congress likely to get 13-19 seats and the NPP 17 to 23 seats. The JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll says the BJP-NDPP alliance is likely to storm the ruling NPF bastion as it is predicted to win 27-32 seats with a vote share of 48 percent, against NPF's 20-25 seats.


In Nagaland, the exit poll claimed a victory for the NDPP-BJP which is likely to get 25-31 seats with 38.4 percent vote share and the NPF likely to bag 19-25 seats with a vote share of 27.1 percent.

EVMs brought to a counting centre in Agartala this morning.

BJP leader Ram Madhav: "Seeing the early trends, I feel that in Tripura BJP is going to do very well. In Nagaland too, our alliance is doing very well and Congress is trailing in Meghalaya. The three results of North East are going to be very good for BJP."

The ruling NPF was leading in 30 seats while the NDPP+BJP was leading in 22 seats as per early trends available for the Nagaland Assembly Election. Voting for the 59 seats in the 60-member Assembly was held on February 27 as NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio was elected uncontested from Northern Angami II seat. The Congress has not opened its account as yet.

Meghalaya leads: Cong 17,  BJP 3, NPP: 10, Others: 11


Both PM Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi held two election rallies each in Meghalaya.

The PM addressed a rally in West Garo Hills district, considered as the Congress bastion since statehood in 1972. The rally at Phulbari town was the Prime Minister's second campaign meeting in the state to drum up support for the BJP candidates in the assembly elections. His first was when he began his campaign in December last year where he had also inaugurated the Shillong-Nongstoin-Tura highway.  The BJP, which has fielded candidates on 47 seats out of a total of 60 (-1) in Meghalaya, is making strong efforts to throw Congress out of power.


Congress president Rahul Gandhi visited Meghalaya on February 20, just a week before the state went to the polls. While addressing a rally at a Jan Sampark programme in Tura district, Gandhi said, "As the Modi Govt nears the end of its tenure, it is clear that instead of giving hope, security and economic growth, they have given us only hopelessness, unemployment, fear, hatred, and violence."


It was Gandhis second visit to the state. On his earlier visit, Gandhi had kicked off the partys campaign in the state with a concert called "Celebration for Peace."


Meghalaya has 18.3 lakh voters of which 42,843 are new voters for the February 27 assembly elections.

Nagaland

NPF 3, Cong 1, BJP ally NDPP: 12


Tripura

LF: 22, Cong 2, BJP 22


Meghalaya

Cong 15,  BJP 5,  NPP 9, others 8


Anti-incumbency seems to be the order of the day in Tripura with Prime Minister Narendra Modi' call to "throw" out the Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government in the state and vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party to usher in development for which he developed a new acronym -- 'HIRA'.


"Throw away manik (Sarkar government) and go for 'hira' for prosperity and development in the state in the upcoming election.

'Hira' means, he said, "H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways".

Modi said, "Tripura remained backward for a long time and there has been no development in the state. So we want to bring transformation through transportation. People should throw Manik now and wear hira," the prime minister said.

'Hira' means, he said, "H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways".

The BJP will hold a parliamentary party meet at 5:30 pm today. 

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar was leading from Dhanpur, BJP state unit president Biplab Kumar Deb was leading from Banamalipur seat. State PWD Minister Badal Choudury was leading from Hrishyamukh seat. Voting was held for 59 constituencies in Tripura following the death of a candidate. The strength of the state Assembly is 60.

Nagaland: NPF: 1, BJP 10 (NDA leads)


Tripura: LF: 11, Cong: 2, BJP: 12


Meghalaya: Cong 3, BJP 3

A huge crowd has gathered at the Shillong Polo ground where people can see counting trends on a giant screen. 

Counting began at 8 am in all the three north eastern states, Election Commission sources said. Though the strength of each assembly is 60, voting was held for 59 constituencies in all the three states, for different reasons.


While a CPI(M) candidate died in Tripura, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate was killed in Meghalaya, and this resulted in countermanding of the polls in one seat in each of the two states. In Nagaland, former chief minister Neiphiu Rio won from one seat unopposed.


Tripura went to the polls on February 18 and elections were held in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27. The Additional Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura, Tapas Ray said counting is on in 59 counting halls for 59 constituencies in 20 sub-divisions of all eight districts.


A three-tier security arrangement has been made for all the counting centres, Ray said adding that it is expected that the results would be out by five hours. In Nagaland, 349 tables in 17 centres across the state have been set up for the counting of votes, its Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said.


Votes in Nagaland are being counted in the presence of the candidates and their agents under the supervision of the respective district returning officers and assistant returning officers, State Additional CEO N Moa Aier told PTI.


Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said a three-tier security arrangement has been made at all the 13 counting centres and 11 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed here for the counting process. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the people of Tripura to "throw" out the Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government in the state and vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party to usher in development for which he developed a new acronym -- 'HIRA'.


Addressing an election meeting at Rangamatia Madrassa ground Sonamura last month,, he said people wear 'manik' or gem stone for changing their fate, but this Manik (Sarkar) failed to bring prosperity in the lives of people.



"Throw away manik (Sarkar government) and go for 'hira' for prosperity and development in the state in the upcoming election.'Hira' means, he said, "H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways".Modi said, "Tripura remained backward for a long time and there has been no development in the state. So we want to bring transformation through transportation. People should throw Manik now and wear hira," the prime minister said.He said, "We need good roads, highways, rail and air connectivity for development. So we have brought hira for you," he said.


Image: Tripura CM Manik Sarkar

Tripura had its Assembly elections on February 18, when a whopping 92% of voters turned up to choose their representatives for 59 seats. Counting will begin at 8 am on Saturday.The state has had a Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left government for 25 years, with Chief Minister Manik Sarkar at the helm since 1998.


This time, however, the Bharatiya Janata Party has posed a huge challenge to the CPI(M). The saffron party has tied up with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, which has been demanding a separate state of Twipraland for the Tripuri tribe.


The state has 60 Assembly seats, but voting for the Charilam seat was pushed to March 12 after Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma died while campaigning. Although the exit polls did not clearly forecast who would win, it largely predicted that the BJP will consolidate its position in Tripura. According to all the polls, the BJP will increase it vote share in Tripura immensely.

In Meghalaya where the Congress is in power, the main battle is between Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his surnamesake Conrad Sangma of the National People's Party (NPP) who, even though a part of the NDA's North East Democratic Alliance and a partner of the BJP in some other states, is not in a saffron alliance in this Christian-majority state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party - Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) alliance and the Naga People's Front (NPF) are slugging it out to see who will emerge more dominant in Nagaland.The counting of votes for 59 assembly seats has just begun.


The NDPP Chief and former chief minister Neiphiu Rio has already been declared elected unopposed.


He was declared a winner from the Northern Angami-II assembly seat in Kohima district after his rival withdrew his nomination.


On February 3, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju announced the BJP's alliance with the NDPP and said the alliance will form next government in Nagaland with an absolute majority.Rijiju also clarified that despite forging an alliance with the NDPP, the BJP was not severing its ties with the NPF, which has been its ally for last 15 years. The NDPP contested on 40 seats and the BJP on 20 seats.


While Nagaland Chief Minister and NPF leader TR Zeliang has expressed confidence of returning to power, the exit polls have presented a different picture altogether.


The JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll predicts that the BJP-NDPP will win 27-32 seats. It says that the NPF will win 20-25 seats and the Congress may hardly manage to win 0-2 seats.


The CVoter exit polls claimed a victory for the NDPP-BJP combine in Nagaland, which is likely to get 25-31 and the NPF likely to bag 19-25 seats.Voting for the Nagaland Assembly was conducted on February 27.


The turnout was recorded to be 75 percent.In January, eleven parties including the ruling NPF had decided not to contest the February 27 polls, agreeing to the demand of tribal bodies and civil society groups to resolve the Naga issue first.


Out of the total seats in the House, 20 are reserved for the SC candidates, while 10 are reserved for ST candidates. The rest of the 30 seats are for General candidates.


Total 196 candidates contested elections. The key candidates in the polls are Neiphiu Rio (NDPP), Biplap Deb (BJP), TR Zeliang (NPF), Yanthungo Patton (BJP), K L Chishi (BJP) and Kewekhape Therie (INC). -- ANI

Visuals from outside the counting centre in Shillong, Meghalaya. 

Visuals from inside a counting centre in Agartala, Tripura.

Two exit polls on Tuesday predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will dethrone the Left front from power in Tripura. According to the exit polls, the BJP will also consolidate its position in two other northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. JanKiBaat-NewsX has predicted that the BJP-IPFT (Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura) alliance in Tripura will win 35-45 seats with a vote share of 51 per cent.


While another exit poll by AxisMyIndia predicts 44-50 seats for the BJP-IPFT with a vote share of 49 per cent and others may get 0-3 seats with a vote share of 11 per cent. Read more

The counting of votes for the assemblies of three northeastern states '" Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland -- will begin at 8am today amid tight security.


The BJP has emerged as a strong contender in all the three states and two exit polls have predicted that the party would dethrone the 25-year-old Left Front government in Tripura and consolidate its position in Nagaland and Meghalaya.


Here's all you need to know:


Tripura:  Went to polls on February 18. The BJP is likely to wrest power from the 25-year-old CPM government, with two exit polls predicting that the saffron party-led alliance may win over 35 seats in the state. However, a third exit poll predicts a close contest between the CPM and the BJP in the 60-member assembly. Despite large-scale snags in VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails) and EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines), over 92 per cent (excluding 50,770 postal ballots) of Tripura's 2,536,589 voters cast their votes on February 18, setting a new record in the electoral history of India.


Though the strength of each of the assemblies in the three states is 60 members, voting was held in 59 constituencies for different reasons.


Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio, the three-time former CM and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party candidate, was elected unopposed in Northern Angami-II seat.


Meghalaya: Went to polls on February 27 and BJP will be challenging the Congress, which has been in power for the last ten years.


The Congress fielded 59 candidates, while the BJP put up nominees in 47 constituencies. For the first time, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats.


In Nagaland, BJP has joined hands with the NDPP that was floated by former chief minister Neiphiu Rio. The NDPP is contesting on 40 seats and the saffron party on 20.


The Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland since the state's inception in 1963, is contesting only in 18 seats, two less than the BJP.


Nagaland recorded around 75 per cent voter turnout in the assembly election amid sporadic violence which led to the death of a person in Zunheboto district.  Re-polling was ordered at 13 polling stations across nine constituencies in Nagaland following reports of snatching of EVMs, misuse of electoral photo identity cards and miscreants not allowing voters to exercise their franchise.