11:38 Leads update at 11.30 am
Tripura: Left 17 | BJP 41 | Congress 0 | Others 1
Meghalaya: Congress 27 | NPP 10 | BJP 8 | Others 14
Nagaland: NPF+ 27 | BJP+ 30 | Others 3 | Congress 0
11:00 Leads update at 11 am
Tripura: Left 27| BJP 32 | Congress 0 | Others )
Meghalaya: Congress 22 | NPP 14 | BJP leads 5 | Others 17
Nagaland: NPF+ 29 | BJP+ 31 seats | Others 1
11:30 Alliance with IPFT a gamechanger in Tripura: BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma
BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma says the alliance with IPFT (Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura) was the gamechanger. “Alliance with IPFT could have been suicidal or give us huge advantage but Amit Shah was sure it will get good results. Many people did not want merger but the BJP president was in favour and that has helped. If Amit Shah is a student of post graduation, Rahul Gandhi is in nursery in terms of politics,” he told News18.
10:55 Just In | PM Narendra Modi to visit BJP office at 6 PM
10:15 Just when it looked certain that the CPI(M) will return to power in Tripura, the BJP has made a strong come back to lead in 31 seats as compared to Left Front's 24 seats. Remember, BJP leader Ram Madhav had earlier in the day said that the EVM counting was yet to begin.
09:50 "In Meghalaya, we will form the government. The BJP don't have a stand of their own, they resorted to stealing our leaders. Many defected to their side but the Congress will still emerge victorious," says Congress spokesperson, Zarita. — News18
09:40 It appears that the tables are turning in Tripura. The Manik Sarkar-led Left Front leads in 30 seats, comfortably ahead of the BJP which is leading in 22 seats.
09:30 Early trends can’t be taken on face value. Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya have smaller constituencies. Thus, the margin of victory can at times be under 100 seats. One round of counting can turn the tables.
09:15 Much like a T20 match, the leads are swinging in favour of political parties every minute.
In Meghalaya, the Congress is ahead in 10 seats, while the NPP is leading in 5 seats. The BJP has so far managed to lead only in one seat, other regional parties are ahead in 6 seats. Meghalaya has 59 seats up for grabs.
In Tripura, the BJP trailing Left by a margin of 3 seats. The Manik Sarkar-led CPM is ahead in 26 seats, just ahead of the BJP which is leading in 23 seats.
In Nagaland, the NPF+ combine is ahead in 23 seats, while BJP is leading in 17 seats. Congress still to open account.
0900 Update at 9 am: One hour since the counting has begun
Tripura: BJP trails Left — BJP leads in 19 seats; Left ahead in 23 seats
Meghalaya: Congress leads in 7 seats, NPP ahead in 3, BJP leads 1, Others 6
Nagaland: NPF+ leads in 8 seats, BJP+ in 9 seats
08:55 Tripura is getting exciting by the minute. The Left now leads in 23 seats against the BJP combine is ahead in 18 seats. Congress is ahead in one seat.
08:52 The BJP-plus alliance is leading in 6 seats in Nagaland. NPF+ and Congress yet to get cracking.
08:46 The race in Tripura is hotting up. The CPI (M) now leads in 14 seats, the BJP-lead leads in 11 seats. Congress is yet to open account in the 60-seat assembly.
08:45 Early trends coming in from Meghalaya now. The Congress and NPP are leading in 3 seats each and BJP in 1 constituency.
08:35 BJP, Left neck and neck in Tripura; BJP-NDDP bag 1 seat in Nagaland
08:31 The equation in Tripura seems changing quickly. CPI(M) leads in 9 seats while BJP+ combine is ahead in 10 seats.
Meanwhile, in Nagaland, BJP+ alliance leads in one seat; other political parties are yet to lead.
No leads from Meghalaya yet.
08:30 PM Modi's scathing attack on Tripura CM Manik Sarkar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has last week called upon the people of Tripura to "throw" out the Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government in the state and vote for the BJP to usher in development for which he developed a new acronym - 'hira'.
Hira means, he said, "H for highway, I for Internet way, R for roadways and A for airways".
08:15 Anti-CPI(M) sentiment over pro-BJP wave in Tripura?
BJP’s poll in-charge of Tripura, Sunil Deodhar says "It is a fact that we are riding on a strong anti-CPI(M) wave rather than a pro-BJP wave. It's more of a 'CPI(M) hatao' sentiment than a 'Modi lao' one. And it's because of an incompetent chief minister, his misrule and bad governance."
The 52-year-old served as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign manager in Varanasi during the 2014 general elections. — News18
08:00 Counting of votes for the elections in Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura has begun. The BJP will be just one state short of a northeast bereft of the Congress if exit poll predictions come true. Elections held after 2014 saw the exit of Congress in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Two exit polls have hinted at a Congress rout in the three states. With regional players’ help, the BJP is set to come to power, exit polls suggest.
07:58 We're just 2 minutes to the start of the counting of votes for the three northeastern states. Can the BJP expand its presence in the Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura?
07:15 Exit Polls — Nagaland
In Nagaland, 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 and a vote share of 42 percent, according to the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll.
07:10 Exit Polls — Meghalaya
In Meghalaya where the Congress is in power, the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll shows that the National People's Party (NPP) is set to gain with 23-27 seats while the BJP will get 8-12 seats, with vote shares of 39 and 12 percent respectively. The NPP, which is member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has not entered into a formal pre-poll alliance with the BJP.
07:05 Exit Polls — Tripura
JanKiBaat-NewsX has predicted that the BJP-IPFT alliance in Tripura will win 35-45 seats with a vote share of 51 percent. While another exit poll by AxisMyIndia predicts 44-50 seats for the BJP-IPFT with a vote share of 49 percent and others may get 0-3 seats with a vote share of 11 percent.
07:00 Exit polls suggest a BJP surge in the northeast
Exit polls suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with allies is likely to form the next governments in India’s north-eastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. Two exit polls last Tuesday predicted that the BJP would dethrone the Left from power in Tripura and consolidate its position in north-eastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland.
06:55 The day ahead — Meghalaya
A three-tier security arrangement has been made at all the 13 counting centres and 11 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed for the counting process.
06:50 The day ahead — Nagalan
In Nagaland, 349 tables in 17 centres across the state have been set up for counting. Votes would be counted in presence of the candidates and agents under the supervision of the respective district returning officers and assistant returning officers.
06:45 The day ahead — Tripura
Adequate security measures have been made for the counting centres in Tripura. Counting halls are ready. General and police observers have been appointed for the halls.
06:35 Difficult start to Nagaland election process
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. The election process in Nagaland had started on a difficult note.
Following a no-poll diktat from the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations that advocated "solution (to the Naga political issue) before election", political parties initially kept away from the poll process.
Though the filing of nominations started on January 31, the first batch of 22 contestants filed their papers only on February 5, the penultimate day for filing of nominations.
There was a heavy rush of nominees to file their nomination papers on the last day, February 7, and finally after scrutiny and withdrawal, 227 candidates were in the fray for the Assembly elections in the state.
06:30 Assembly strength in Tripura, Meghalaya & Nagaland
Though the strength of each of the Assemblies in the three states is 60 members, voting was held for 59 constituencies in all of them, for different reasons.
While a CPI (M) candidate died in Tripura, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate was killed in Meghalaya, which resulted in countermanding of the polls in one seat each in the two states.
In Meghalaya, 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, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) chief Neiphiu Rio was declared elected unopposed.
In Nagaland, the 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.
06:25 Counting would begin from 8 am in all the states amid tight security, Election Commission officials said.
While Tripura went to the polls on February 18, elections were held in Nagaland and Meghalaya on February 27.
06:20 BJP emerges a strong contender in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura
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 the other two states. While the Congress has been ruling Meghalaya for 10 years, the Naga People's Front (NFP) has been in power in Nagaland since 2003, except for a three-month period of President's rule in 2008.
Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a bid to expand its footprints in the region.
06:16 The counting of votes for the Assembly elections in three north-eastern states — Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura — will begin at 8 am amid tight security.
06:15 Good morning readers! This blog bring you up to speed with the live counting updates from the recently-concluded assembly elections in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
Conrad Sangma will be the next chief minister of Meghalaya. But there will be no Deputy CM in the new government: Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP
BJP, IPFT MLAs to meet on March 6 to elect leader: Deb
Newly elected MLAs of the BJP and its ally IPFT in Tripura will meet here on March 6 to elect their leader, state BJP president Biplab Deb said on Sunday.
The BJP has 35 MLAs and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) has eight.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari will be present at the meeting, Deb said.
Neiphiu Rio has majority, should form govt: Nagaland Governor
Neiphiu Rio has the majority and should form the government, Nagaland Governor PB Acharya said today after a meeting with the NDPP leader, who claimed he has the support of 32 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.
Acharya said he has asked Rio to submit signatures of all the 32 MLAs supporting him by tomorrow.
A senior leader of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), an ally of the BJP, said Rio, in his meeting with the Governor, staked claim to form the government in Nagaland saying he has the support of 32 MLAs.
Defeat in Tripura should be viewed with seriousness: CPI(M)
The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala said that the party's defeat in the assembly election in Tripura should be viewed with utmost seriousness.
Veteran party leader and former chief minister V S Achutanandan urged the party leadership to join hands with secular forces to fight the Sangh Parivar.
"The country is facing serious challenges. The Congress, which had ruled for decades in the post-independence period, has become weaker now," the 94-year-old Marxist veteran said in a statement.
NPP's Conrad Sangma may be Meghalaya CM as BJP stitches 5-party alliance
A five-party alliance cobbled together by the BJP and led by the NPP is set to come to power in Meghalaya, edging out the Congress which had emerged as the single-largest party. Sources said NPP leader Conrad Sangma may be the next chief minister.
BJP wants NPP to take lead to form non-Cong govt in Meghalaya
As the Meghalaya polls threw a hung verdict, the BJP today said it is ready to provide all support to form a non-Congress government in the hill state but the initiative has to be taken by the regional outfit National People's Party (NPP), which bagged the second-highest 19 seats.
Assam minister and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said the verdict of the assembly elections in Meghalaya was against the Congress, which ruled the state for a decade, and against incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
"We want the NPP to take the initiative and the BJP will provide full cooperation. We are here to help form a non-Congress government," he told reporters here.
BJP, ally confident of forming govt in Nagaland
The BJP and its pre-poll ally in Nagaland, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), today exuded confidence that they would be able to form a stable government in the state as the numbers were on their side.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the pre-poll allies have got a "near simple majority" in the 60-member assembly while NDPP leader and three-time chief minister Neiphiu Rio said he was confident that their alliance will form the next government in Nagaland.
"We are in a comfortable position to form the next government. The NDPP-BJP alliance has secured near simple majority in Nagaland. We have the support of one independent and one JD(U) MLAs which takes us to 32 seats," Madhav told reporters here.
Cong leaders meet Meghalaya guv, stake claim to form govt
After emerging as the single largest party in Meghalaya, the Congress staked a claim to form a government in the state at a meeting with Governor Ganga Prasad, officials and party leaders said today.
A delegation of three Congress leaders -- Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and CP Joshi -- met the governor at 7 pm last night, they said.
"We met the Governor and sought his invitation to the single largest party to be called first to form the government as per convention," former Union minister Nath told PTI.
The Congress won 21 seats out the 59 that went to polls last month. The party is 10 seats short of a simple majority.
BJP appoints central observers for three NE states
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.
The ministers have been tasked with selecting the party's chief ministerial candidate in the state.
The board met in the evening and expressed its happiness over the party's performance in the three northeastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
It also appointed central observers for Nagaland where the BJP is set to form government along with its allies, and Meghalaya where the elections have thrown up a hung verdict, said senior party leader and Union Health Minister J P Nadda.
BJP victory in north-east not a defeat for Rahul Gandhi: Farooq Abdullah
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today defended Congress president Rahul Gandhi over the party's debacle in the Assembly polls in three northeastern states, stating that the party scion needed some time to deliver results.
Congress suffered a humiliating defeat in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura polls, the results for which were declared today. The BJP wrested Tripura, the last Left bastion, and received invitation to be a part of the government in Nagaland, while Meghalaya elected a hung Assembly.
“I do not think he (Gandhi) has failed. Give him time as he has just become the president (of Congress party)...It is not his defeat,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Farooq Abdullah decries communalisation of politics ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today expressed grave concern over “communalisation of politics" ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and cautioned the BJP to desist from "dividing the nation on religious lines".
“A polarised India is detrimental to its growth, progress, unity and peace,” he said during a function at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here.
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir also decried the misuse of religion for political and electoral gains. Elaborating on the attempts by divisive forces in the state with an eye on ensuing elections, Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir has to flourish and progress as a single entity.
Click to read the full report here.
Lotus Blooms again! Left red-faced, BJP triumphant, Congress embarrassed
Acche Din for North-East? The BJP has emerged as a strong party in the North-East region by putting up a spectacular show in the Assembly Elections.
As we wrap up our North-East Assembly Elections coverage, we want to thank our readers for tuning-in.
For all the latest news, views & analysis log-on to Moneycontrol.com
Tripura Assembly Election 2018 - Final Tally
| Party | Seats Won |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 35 |
| Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 16 |
| Indigenous People's Front Of Tripura | 8 |
| Total | 59 |
Meghalaya Assembly Election 2018 - Final Tally
| Party | Seats Won |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 2 |
| Indian National Congress | 21 |
| Nationalist Congress Party | 1 |
| Hill State People’s Democratic Party | 2 |
| National People's Party | 19 |
| United Democratic Party | 6 |
| Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement | 1 |
| People's Democratic Front | 4 |
| Independent | 3 |
| Total | 59 |
Nagaland Assembly Election 2018 - Final Tally
| Party | Seats Won |
| Bharatiya Janata Party | 11 |
| Naga Peoples Front | 27 |
| Janata Dal (United) | 1 |
| National People's Party | 2 |
| Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party | 16 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Total | 58 |
Be alert, don't allow Congress culture to enter BJP: PM Modi warns workers
"I thank the people of these states for supporting the good governance agenda and ‘Act East Policy’ of BJP & our valued allies. We remain committed to working towards fulfilling the dreams & aspirations of the people," the PM said.
Leads update at 19:00
Tripura: Left 16 |BJP+ 35| Congress 0 | IPFT 8
Meghalaya:Congress 21| NPP 19 | BJP 2 | Others 17
Nagaland: NPF+ 27 |BJP+ 27| Others 4 | Congress 0
I had told people when I first won that all the love and trust that they have given us, we will return with interest, says PM Modi, concluding his speech.
Want to congratulate defence forces, Election Commission for ensuring peaceful polls, says PM Modi.
Congress' stature has never been as low as it is today, says PM Modi.
Congress has been left to reminisce about what it used to be, says PM Modi.
I have known Amit Shah since he was a student and watching him take the party to its current heights has made me a very proud person, says PM Modi.
BJP's team in Tripura was the youngest team in the country, says PM Modi.
The Tripura victory has been brought to us by the youth of the state, says PM Modi. Even the youth there have accepted BJP's message of 'Sabka saath, sabka vikaas'
All three states don't even know who their CM is going to be but they still voted for us. This shows that we could manage that victory even without resorting to parading celebrities for votes, says PM Modi.
India's development cannot be possible without the development of the North East, says PM Modi.
When the sun sets, it is red in colour. When it rises, it is saffron in colour: PM Modi on North East win.
In a democracy, victory and defeat are both subjective. Just as the victorious can celebrate their win with pomp, the defeated should also learn to accept their defeat with some sportsmanship. Unfortunately, this is something I have observed to be absent ever since taking over in 2014, says PM Modi.
Left parties have killed many BJP workers in the North East, says PM Modi, asking the crowd to stand up and observe two minutes of silence for the people who laid down their lives.
PM Modi says that many BJP workers have actually sacrificed their lives for this victory.
PM Modi pauses address for Azaan.
PM Modi to start speaking at BJP headquarters now.
BJP will win Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengalnext, says Amit Shah.
Both in Nagaland and Tripura, the Congress did not even open its account. It has zero seats to show for its effort, says Amit Shah.
This is the first of many celebrations at the new BJP headquarters, says party president Amit Shah.
This is a historic victory for the BJP. Having won the North East, we are now marching victorious towards Karnataka, says party president Amit Shah.
The BJP will form the next government in Nagaland with the help of other parties, Union minister and BJP in-charge for the state Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday, indicating that the party's erstwhile ally NPF may align with it.
Leads update at 17:30
Tripura: Left 16 |BJP+ 35| Congress 0 | IPFT 8
Meghalaya:Congress 21| NPP 19 | BJP 2 | Others 17
Nagaland: NPF+ 25 |BJP+ 27| Others 5 | Congress 0
"I thank the people of these states for supporting the good governance agenda and ‘Act East Policy’ of BJP & our valued allies. We remain committed to working towards fulfilling the dreams & aspirations of the people," PM Modisaid about his party's performance in the three North Eastern states today.
BJP's golden period wouldn't have begun till after election victories in Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala: BJP President Amit Shah.
PM Modi on North-East elections' results: "Time and again, election after election, the people of India are reposing their faith in the positive and development oriented agenda of the NDA. People do not have the time or respect for negative, disruptive and disconnected politics of any kind."
PM Modi on Tripura election:
"The victory of BJP Tripura 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 historic victory in Tripura is as much an ideological one. It is a win for democracy over brute force and intimidation. Today peace and non-violence has prevailed over fear. We will provide Tripura the good government that the state deserves."
