Over 83.63% voter turnout recorded in Nagaland, 75% in Meghalaya

The counting of votes for the two states, and Tripura, which voted on Feb 16, will be held on March 2.

Over 83 per cent of the more than 13 lakh electorate cast their vote on Monday in the single-day Nagaland state election and Meghalaya saw a voter turnout of over 75 per cent of the 21.6 lakh electors in the polling for assembly elections in the two northeastern states.

In Nagaland, polling was held in total of 2291 polling stations across 59 of the total 60 constituencies. One seat - Akuluto in Zunheboto district was won uncontested by BJP nominee and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi. Incidents of violence were reported from three districts during the day and three persons were injured in firing by unidentified miscreants in a constituency in Wokha district, the police said. The NDPP-BJP combine is seeking a mandate for the second term, with Neiphiu Rio as the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance.

Meanwhile, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) is contesting to retain power in Meghalaya while the BJP, Trinamool Congress and other regional parties are attempting to bring about a change in the government in the northeastern state. The Congress and the BJP are contesting in 59 seats, while the NPP has put up nominees in 56 constituencies, the TMC in 57 and the UDP in 46. Though Meghalaya has a 60-member assembly, polling in Sohiong constituency has been adjourned following the death of one of the candidates.

"At 5 pm, over 75 per cent turnout was recorded. In 200 odd polling stations in four districts, voting is likely to go on till 9 pm," Kharkongor said. "Polling is being held in a free and fair manner. No untoward incident has been reported," he said. Malfunctioning of EVMs was reported in a few polling booths but these were later fixed, the CEO said.

Voting took place in 3,419 polling stations, of which 640 have been categorised as 'vulnerable' and 323 as 'critical'. "Over 19,000 polling personnel and 119 companies of CAPFs have been deployed across the state. They have been backed by state policemen to maintain law and order," the CEO said.

NPP supremo and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is contesting from the South Tura constituency where he locked horns with militant-turned-BJP leader Bernard Marak. Leader of Opposition and TMC leader Mukul Sangma is contesting from two seats - Songsak and Tikrikilla while his wife D D Shira is also in the fray. Enforcement agencies have made the seizure of drugs, cash and freebies which was 20 times higher this year as compared to 2018. Seizure of over Rs 74.18 crore was made since January 18 whereas the value of drugs seized was over Rs 33 crore and the value of cash was Rs 8.71 crore. The seizure made in 2018 was Rs 1.15 crore only, he said.