Nagaland and Meghalaya elections updates: 75% turnout in Nagaland and 67% in Meghalaya till 5 pm

Meghalaya: Repolling ordered in one polling station

Repolling has been ordered at one polling station (Kyndon Tuber) in Raliang constituency in Meghalaya's Jowai district due to "mix up of EVMs". Ballot unit meant for Mookaiaw was instead sent to Raliang. Dates have not been announced yet.

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Watch: Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor briefs on polling in state

At the customary end-of-polls press conference, Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor explains that the hilly terrain in the state has hindered communications, especially with regions like Garo Hills and West and Southwest Khasi Hills which fall in the shadow areas, leading to incomplete polling percentage figures.

"This is what is available to me at this stage. Later on Tuesday or Wednesday, we will have the full and comprehensive voting percentage."

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Polling still on in some constituencies of Nagaland

Visual from Tanlao ward in Mon town. 

Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

67% turnout in Meghalaya, 75% in Nagaland: EC

Chief Election Officer FR Kharkongor said, the 50 percent poll percent in Meghalaya, reported earlier, was based on the information the poll panel got from limited number of polling booths.

The 67 percent turnout in Meghalaya is an updated figure that the Eleciton Commission received at 5 pm. Kharkongor further added that the Election Commission is yet to receive polling percentage update from Garo Hills region, which accounts for 40 percent of the overall booths in Meghalaya. 

Polling in still continuing in about 22-25% of the total polling stations across Meghalaya, he said.

75% polling percentage in Nagaland till 5 pm

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma positive of win

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma voiced confidence that the Congress will retain power, crossing the magic figure of 31 MLAs. 

"I have full faith in the people. I believe they have full confidence in the Congress. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after voting at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati segment.

Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from Ampati and Songsak.

Asked whether the Congress had decided on potential partners in case it fell short of a majority in the new house, he quipped: "We do have lots of good friends."

IANS

50% vote in Meghalaya as balloting ends, people still queued up

Over 50 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, even as hundreds were still lined up to cast ballots.

"Over 50 percent electorate had cast their votes till 4 pm, with a large number of voters still in queues at various polling stations across the state," Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.

A total of 18,09,818 electorates, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters, were to decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. A total of 31.40 percent of the voters had cast votes till 1 pm.

He said technical glitches in 31 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and 41 VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails) were reported from around 180 polling stations.

IANS

At 4 pm, 50% of the registered electorate had cast their votes in Meghalaya, says chief election officer

Meghalaya chief minister, NPP chief cast their votes

North Shillong's Oakland polling station goes all pink

Interestingly, all seven of the candidates in the constituency are men.

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Nagaland: 67% polling percentage till 3 pm, says Election Commission

Meghalaya governor Ganga Prasad after voting at the Oakland polling station in 17 North Shillong constituency

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Voter turnout of 46.83% reported until 3:30pm in Meghalaya

Meghalaya: BJP registers complaint with Election Commission over objectionable advertisement on radio channel

Ex-Meghalaya CM and Nongpoh MLA Donwa Dethwelson Lapang casts his vote at Pahamlapong polling station

Image courtesy: Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Peace is still precarious in the state

Three years after brokering the Framework Agreement for peace with Nagaland’s largest rebel group in August 2015, earlier this month, the BJP broke its 15-year alliance with the state’s ruling party, as we said. Traditionally, votes were cast on the basis of village or clan affiliations. However, with the Hindutva-centric BJP now entering the fray, the campaign has turned communal. 

Despite the indefinite ceasefire, Nagaland continues to live under the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act, in its 60th year in the state now (1958 to 2018). Declared a “disturbed area”, the deadline for repealing the Act in the state has been extended for another six months, to June 2018. At least 126 civilians in Nagaland were killed in insurgency attacks from 2007 to February 2018, showed the South Asia Terror Portal database. In the first two months of 2018 alone, the state reported four deaths, indicating peace in Nagaland is still precarious.

RECAP: Narendra Modi had campaigned in Nagaland on 22 February

Mukul Sangma casts his vote in Meghalaya

Nagaland AAP candidate alleges malpractice in his constituency 

Akavi Zhimomi, AAP candidate for Nagaland's Ghaspani-I seat, alleges voters fraud in his constituency, reports The Hindu.  He has been quoted as saying that he alerted the Election Commission over "one man one vote" not being practised in many polling stations.  

Arrangements for the polls in Meghalaya

​The CEO said a total of 106 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with the state armed personnel and police, were deployed across the state, especially in the troubled Garo Hills region.

Tuesday's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding that 18.09 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations in the state. For the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state, the CEO said.

Over half of the candidates in Nagaland are crorepatis

Out of the 193 candidates analysed in Nagaland, 114 (59 percent) were found to be crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assembly elections is Rs 3.76 crores. However, there is one candidate, namely Akavi N. Zhimomi (AAP) contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency, who has declared zero assets in his affidavit.

Source: ADR

Voter turnout update at 2 pm

As of 2 pm, voter turnout in Nagaland stands at 57 percent. Voting in Nagaland is expected to continue till 4 pm. However, in some remote areas of the state, the polling may be wrapped up by 3 pm. 

Malfunctioning in EVMs, VVPATs delay polling in Meghalaya

According to CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor, polling at many booths were delayed due to malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs. He didn't give any numbers related to the scale of malfunctions saying they were still collecting information from the ground. He said polling hours will be extended accordingly.

Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/101Reporters

Want more employment opportunity in Nagaland, says voter

A 26-year old voter says she expects more employment opportunities to be created by the next government in Nagaland.

Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu says Nagaland peaceful despite imposition of AFSPA

NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu says it puzzles him that the Indian government has put AFSPA in force in Nagaland despite the peace in the state. “The Naga issue is different from the problems around. Based on our unique history, we are fighting for our right. We believe we will be able to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the problem. Nagaland is peaceful despite all the problems in the state. Naga people have been longing for peace for too long. Therefore, imposition of any draconian law is not at all necessary. That’s what’s puzzling us. Why Indian government has put that draconian law in force in Nagaland.”

Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Average assets of Meghalaya candidates grew by 44 percent

In Meghalaya, 57 MLAs are recontesting in the ongoing assembly elections. The average assets of these MLAs in 2018 is Rs 11.19 crores. Their average growth in assets from 2013 to 2018 is Rs. 3.41 crores i.e. an increase by 44 percent.

Source: ADR

Voting to end at 3 pm in some booths in Nagaland

In some remote areas in Nagaland, voting will end by 3 pm. However those voters who are present near the polling booths will be provided coupons so that they can continue voting even after the close of polls.

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

NPF lodges complaint with EC, alleges BJP-NDPP of violating poll code

The NPF has lodged a complaint with the EC alleging that the NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland has violated the Election Model Code of Conduct,The Morung Express reported on Tuesday.

The NDPP-BJP alliance “has, through full, front page advertisements in the local daily newspapers today (26 February, 2018), blatantly violated the Model Code of Conduct by way of making a slew of promises”, NPF associate press secretary Atou Liezietsu wrote to the CEO, Nagaland.

According to the NPF, these promises include “100 percent funding of Centrally-sponsored schemes for Northeast region (which was earlier in the ratio of 90:10), Rs 5300 crore for infrastructure in the next three years, Rs 10,000 crore for roads in Nagaland, Rs 3000 crore for Dimapur-Kohima railway line, Rs 800 crore for power connectivity, and Rs 1800 crore for Kohima Smart City”.

101Reporters

Polling percentage at 1 pm

As of 1 pm, the polling percentage in Nagaland is 56 percent, while it stands at 28.5 percent in Meghalaya. 

Source: Chief Election Officers, Nagaland and Meghalaya

ITBP troops guarding various polling booths in Nagaland

People are queuing up in front of polling booth at Baghmara in Meghalaya

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Image courtesy: Twitter @AIRnewsalerts

Meghalaya BJP president casts his vote

A brief about Meghalaya 

Surrounded by Bangladesh on its south and west, and Assam to its east and north, Meghalaya, roughly the size of Israel, holds a population of two million, equivalent to that of Lucknow. The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, most of whom are Christian, form the three major ethnic tribes in the state and comprise 86.15 percent of its population, shows the 2017 Meghalaya statistical handbook. The religious minorities here include Hindus (11.5 percent) and Muslims (4.4. percent).

Once considered a “role model” of peace and democracy, Meghalaya has witnessed rising insurgency and terrorism since the late 1980s and especially since 2009, according to this 2016 policy brief by the Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies & Analyses. It has also faced unrest due to demands from each of the three major tribes for separate statehood, border disputes with Assam, illegal mining and import of weapons from Assam and Bangladesh, which have impeded the state’s progress.

More details on clashes in Nagaland

"At about 11.10 hrs at Akuluto AC 31, two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed and the party people opened fire in which one person died and two were injured. No disturbance to polling process which goes on well. An Additional SP is on the scene. Further details to follow", said Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha.

 Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Faulty EVMs found in Meghalaya's Garo Hill 

The Hindu reported that as many as 30 EVMs were found to be problematic in Meghalaya's Garo Hills. But the report quoted officials as saying that the machines faced issues with faulty wiring. 

One dead, two injured in clash in Akuluto constituency in Nagaland

The Indian Express is reporting that one person has died and two others have been injured after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed in Akuluto Assembly constituency in Nagaland. The report also quoted CEO Abhijit Sinha as saying that there was also firing at the spot. 

Despite Fragile Peace, Nagaland Outranks Rich States In Health, Gender Parity

After a decade of precarious peace, Nagaland, India’s once troubled north-eastern state, now rivals and even outperforms India’s richest states on a number of development outcomes, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 10 states on 20 socio-economic and health indicators.

However, poor infrastructure and a fragile peace continue to be problem areas as the state–formed on December 1, 1963–heads to the polls on 27 February, 2018.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urged youth to come out and vote

Mukul Sangma votes in Ampati

Meghalaya's incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma stands in a queue to cast his vote at a polling station in Ampati from where he is contesting. He is also contesting from a second constituency, Songsak.

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

AAP candidate poorest in Nagaland 

According to The Indian Express, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Akavi is the poorest in the fray. Akavi, who is contesting Ghaspani 1 Assembly constituency, has declared zero assets in his name. 

Over half of all candidates crorepatis, JD(U)'s Ramongo Lotha richest with Rs 38.92 crore, finds report

In Meghalaya, political dynasties rule the roost as spouses, scions of heavyweights battle it out

Six percent of the candidates face serious criminal charges

In Meghalaya, 370 candidates are contesting elections this year. Out of these 25 (7 percent) of the candidates have criminal cases, while 21(6 percent) of them are accused of serious crimes. This includes the likes of former militant Julias Kitbok Dorphang, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in the infamous Marvellene Inn case last year. He is contesting as an Independent from Mawhati constituency in Nongpoh.

Input by Ayswarya Murthy/101Reporters

11 am voter turnout in Meghalaya

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According to CNN-News18, Meghalaya recorded a total voter turnout of 41 percent till 11 am. 

11 am voter turnout in Nagaland

As of 11 am, the voter turnout stands at 38 percent in Nagaland.

'Congress is happy with the way polling is being conducted'

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president James Lyngdoh says the Congress is happy with the way polling is being conducted so far in the state today, with respect to security arrangements, voter tunout etc. "Everything is going smoothly," he said.

Congress candidate for Umroi constituency and former chief minister's son, George B Lyngdoh, waits in a queue to caste his vote

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah | 101Reporters

Various twists and turns in the run up to Nagaland polls

The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns — with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NDPP which has forged a pre-poll alliance in Nagaland is contesting in 20 and 40 assembly seats, respectively. However, the ruling Naga People's Front, which was an ally of the BJP at the Centre and Manipur is fighting the elections alone.

Kohima voter seeks stable Nagaland government

A 37-year old voter from Kohima hopes for a stable government in Nagaland. He also says that removal of AFSPA would help tourism in all of North East.

Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

NCP candidate from South Tura, John Leslee Sangma, casts his vote

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah | 101Reporters

Details of today's arrangements in Meghalaya

Of the 2,156 polling stations, 1,062 are critical, 530 vulnerable and 564 normal polling stations. Over 15,000 government employees will be on poll duty and there will be 177 all-women polling stations across 25 constituencies in the state. Election Commission officials said there are 55 election observers, including 22 general and expenditure observers each and 11 police observers, besides 442 mirco observers.

UDP candidate from Meghalaya's Nongpoh constituency, Rona Khymdeit, casts her vote

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

EVM, VVPAT issues reported due to connectivity issue, says Meghalaya CEO

Meghalaya CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor said faulty EVMs and VVPAT errors were reported at some places due to connectivity issue. “Booth-level engineers have been sent to rectify the VVPAT issues. Wherever there is a delayed start, we will extend the poll timing accordingly, and issue token to people standing in queue.” The CEO office is still collating the information on the total number of faulty VVPATs.

Prabhu Mallikarjunan/101Reporters

Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha confirms 40 VVPATs, 16 control units (CUs) and ballot units (BUs) were malfunctioning

Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Complaints of malfunctioning EVMs, VVPATs emerge from Meghalaya

Complaints of EVM and VVPAT malfunction are pouring in from all over the state. People had to stand for long at St Anthony's School in Shillong East constituency because of faulty EVMs. While some voters who arrived early at 7 am were still waiting, some had started to leave. An election official said that batteries went down in new machines. "They brought in another one but that too did not work. Can you believe it? Is this what so much of public money is spent for? Till voting day scam in EVM machines or is someone playing dirty? Old people standing in the queue are being made to wait for hours," he said.

Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

Tensions along Assam-Nagaland border

Voting halted in Ladigarh polling station due to tension along Assam-Nagaland Border under Tamlu constituency in Longleng district of Nagaland.

Input from 101Reporters

Hope people will turn out in large numbers and vote for us, says Conrad Sangma

"We have done whatever we could do to put our vision for the state in front of people. We are hoping that people will turn in large number and vote for us. After the voting for this two days I will take some rest and go and see my daughter in Delhi. She has been there alone for a month. I will come back on the 2nd as 3 March is counting day": Conrad Sangma, NPP Chief, Meghalaya.

Input by Syeda Ambia Zahan/101Reporters

IPR Minister and Congress candidate from East Shillong, Ampareen Lyngdoh, just cast her vote at Laitumkhrah

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Input from Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

First polling percentages emerge

While 22 percent voting was recorded in Meghalaya till 9:30 am, the number was slightly lower at 17 percent in Nagaland till 9 am.

Source: Election Commission

Shri Wen Rani, a differently-abled person, casts his vote at a polling booth in Khliehshnong Golflink in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills

Input by Kyrmenlang Uriah/101Reporters

WATCH:  Nagaland CEO tells voters 'don’t stay idle at home on election day'

Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang urges citizens to vote

BJP determined to form to grow in North East

Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the North East. Political observers are keenly watching the BJP's push in the North East, a Congress stronghold, where the saffron party has traditionally been a marginal player.

Voting only to take place in 118 constituencies across two N-E states

In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency, reported PTI.

State CEOs say polling begins in most booths across Meghalaya, Nagaland

The Nagaland CEO Office said that polling started in 1,732 of 2,156 booths in the first hour, reported The Hindu. On the other hand, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor informed that polling began in in 2,221 out of 3,025 polling stations in the first hour, the report added. 

Meanwhile, EVM snag hits several polling booths in Meghalaya

Multiple EVM failures have been reported in various polling stations in Salmanpara and South Tura. In this photo from Babupara in Salmanpara, even the second EVM has ceased to work.

Input by Mich Momin/101Reporters

Nagaland CM TR Zeliang hopes for peaceful and lasting solution to Naga problem

New information emerges from Nagaland

Sources says a crude handmade bomb was lobbed at Tizit polling station at around 5.45 am, where one village council member, Sri Yanlon, sustained a leg injury. Polling processes is continuing at the station. 

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

WATCH: First-time voters in Meghalaya seek change

Voting underway in Nagaland's Jalukie

EVM failure reported from South Tura 

EVM failure has been reported in Pechon Memorial High School Polling centre in South Tura Constituency in Meghalaya. Voters are waiting for a replacement.

Syeda Ambia Zahan/101Reporters

More details emerge from Nagaland 

The local police has confirmed the news of the explosion.  The bomb explosion occurred at 6.45 am and one man suffered injuries in his left leg, says Nagaland Police. 

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Bomb explosion in Nagaland

An explosion has been reported from insurgency-hit Nagaland. The Hindu reports that a polling station has been attacked in Tizit Assembly constituency. More details are awaited. 

Pink booths in Meghalaya

Happy faces at a pink booth, one of 60 across Meghalaya, in Jirang, an ST constituency in Ri Bhoi District, Khasi Hills. Pink booths are manned exclusively by women election officials. There is one in each constituency.

Input by Syeda Ambia Zahan/101Reporters

Meghalaya's development indicators falling as insurgency and poor infrastructure impede progress

Meghalaya, a picturesque hilly state in the sub-eastern Himalayan region, nearly matches India’s richer states on the best health outcomes. However, insurgency and poor infrastructure impede its progress on other development indicators, shows an IndiaSpend analysis of the state’s performance on 20 development indicators in comparison with nine other states and the national average.

This rare matrilineal state–where family descent is traced through the mother rather than the father–is also slipping on gender indices, reflecting a wider change.

As politicos lure voters with cash, Church's Clean Election campaign goes for toss

In Nagaland, buying and selling of votes is common. It’s seen as a major cause of what ails society. Even the Church’s Clean Election campaign, which it has been leading for years, has hardly had an impact. Reverend Zelhou Keyho, secretary general of Nagaland Baptist Church Council said, “As long as buying and selling votes exists, our society will continue to have problems.”

But Wangto defends himself. “Those elected won’t return for five years. They’ll eat up thousands of crores of funds meant for the people. So how can accepting a mere fraction of that be wrong?”

Voting commences in North Tura Constituency

Ten candidates are battling out in this Meghalaya constituency, including AAP's Shalnangh C Marak.

Input by Saidul Khan/101Reporters

What's in a name? Fondness for English names makes Meghalaya's voter list funny and interesting

Italy, Argentina, Sweden and Indonesia will vote and choose their representative to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly this 27 February! Well, if you wonder how these countries have voting rights in this hill state in India's North East, you are in for a surprise. Italy, Argentina, Sweden and Indonesia are the names of voters of Umniuh-Tmar Elaka village under Shella constituency in East Khasi Hills district.

Meghalaya state electoral body's proactive public outreach

The Election Commission in the state has been proactive in reaching out to the electorate — releasing music videos, conducting street-level activities and hosting concerts over the past few months in order to promote responsible and ethical voting. In this video released a couple of days ago, Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer, Fredrick R. Kharkongor, illustrates the secure and transparent voting process facilitate by EVMs and VVPATs. 

Input by Ayswarya Murthy/101Reporters

M Kire, the oldest voter in Upper Midland in Nagaland

The 98 year old ex-serviceman will be casting his vote to elect the new legislator of Western Angami Assembly constituency. 

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urges Nagaland, Meghalaya voters to vote in large numbers

Heavy security in insurgency-hit Nagaland

Five companies of Orissa Armed Police have been deployed to provide security during polling in Nagaland.

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Insurgency a major issue in Nagaland

Presently, there is a growing demand among various civil society organisations to resolve the 'Naga political issue', as the Naga insurgency problem is fondly referred to by Naga nationalist groups as well as Naga insurgent outfits in the North East.

Rise in women candidates in both states

Both Nagaland and Meghalaya are seeing an increase in the number of women candidates. In Nagaland, where no woman ever has been voted to the Assembly, five women candidates are in the fray – the highest ever. The number of women candidates in Meghalaya is also the highest this time around with 32 in the fray.

'Will take forward my husband's efforts': Slain Meghalaya NCP leader Jonathone Sangma's wife to contest polls

Krenilla Marak, the wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathone N Sangma, who was killed in an IED blast last Sunday, said she will contest Meghalaya election from the Williamnagar constituency.

“I will contest the election to take forward my husband’s efforts towards the well-being of the people of Williamnagar,” the 38-year-old mother of five told Firstpost last week, adding, “Party leaders came to my house to express their willingness to allot me a ticket.”

Voting finally begins in model polling station in Shillong

People waiting in a line to cast their votes at Daklane-3, Kohima in Nagaland

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Polling being held for 59 constituencies of Meghalaya

Assembly elections are being held in 11 districts and 59 constituencies (elections in Williamnagar has been postponed due to the killing of one of the candidates, Jonathone N Sangma) in 2771 polling stations. This is a 24 percent increase in the number of polling booths since 2013 and includes for the first time in each constituency a pink booth, completely by women.

Input by Ayswarya Murthy/101Reporters

Voting in Meghalaya in number

Meghalaya has an electorate numbering 18,44,785 voters including 9,29,314 female voters and 9,12,849 male voters, with 89,045 from among the age group between eighteen to nineteen. 

Source: Election Commission

Voting delayed in Shillong model polling station due to EVM issues

On 25 February, ITBP conducted confidence-building marches in Nagaland

Political battlelines drawn in Nagaland 

In Nagaland where the prolonged peace process to find a solution to the vexed Naga political problem has remained a burning issue in the society, the NDPP-BJP alliance is posing a tough challenge to the ruling NPF. The NPF has resorted to painting BJP as anti-Christian during the electioneering while the BJP-NDPP has resorted to flaunting their plans to usher in all-encompassing development in Nagaland besides promising a final solution to the Naga imbroglio at the earliest.

Why Meghalaya is important for Congress

Meghalaya, in particular, is important for the Congress, where it has been ruling for 10 years on the trot. The Congress has deployed its full force in electioneering to prevent the BJP from making inroads among voters in Meghalaya. AICC president Rahul Gandhi has addressed several election rallies and party workers' meetings in Meghalaya to warn the voters against 'divisive designs' of the BJP.

Congress faces uphill task in Meghalaya, BJP-NDPP appear confident in Nagaland ahead of crucial Assembly polls

The ruling Congress is facing an uphill task to retain power in Meghalaya while the BJP hopes to acquire a share of the power riding shoulders of its new ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland even as the two Christian-majority states in the North East go to Assembly polls on Tuesday.

Voting begins in both states

Voting queue up in Meghalaya