Assembly elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland today

Meghalaya and Nagaland are all set to go to the crucial assembly polls today. Polling will be held from 7 am to 4 pm in both states with the Election Commission and security agencies adopting all necessary steps to ensure a smooth voting process.

In Meghalaya, polling for the 59 Assembly seats will take place in 3,419 booths to decide the fate of 369 candidates in fray. Of these, 640 have been identified as vulnerable. A total of 323 booths have been identified as critical while 84 booths are both critical and vulnerable.

A total of 119 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPC) have been deployed across the state for the elections.

Additionally, a total of 53 observers – 20 general observers, 21 expenditure observers and 12 police observers are on the job to ensure that the elections are free, fair and peaceful.

Adequate security measures have been put in place across the state, and the 443 km-long borders with Bangladesh has been closed to avoid any law and order situation.

BJP in Meghalaya is hopeful of improving its tally this time, fighting the elections on its own after running the government for the last five years as part of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance. Whereas, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s NPP is looking to get another term in the state. Meanwhile, the opposition TMC led by former Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma also went all guns blazing to wrest power from the ruling dispensation.

Similarly, in Nagaland, voting for the 59 assembly seats will be held in a single phase today.

A total of 13.17 lakh voters will exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 183 candidates in fray.

The BJP and NDPP are contesting the elections on a 20-40 seat-sharing arrangement while the NPF and Congress are contesting in 22 and 23 seats respectively.

The counting of votes will take place on March 2, 2023.