Counting begins in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura

Counting of votes for 60 Assemblyseats of Meghalaya, polling for which was held on February 23,began at 8 AM today amidst tight security.

"Counting will continue till all results are announced,hopefully before noon," Chief Electoral Officer P Naik toldPTI here.

The CEO has already directed the district-level officersto ensure fool proof security in and around counting centres.

He said 100 metre periphery of all the 13 counting centresin the state have been declared no-vehicle zone.

Prominent leaders among the total 345 candidates whosefate would be decided today are HSPDP President HopingstoneLyngdoh, who had never lost a single elections since Meghalayaattained statehood in 1972, besides four former ChiefMinisters, including Mukul Sangma of the outgoing house.

The three other Chief Ministers are D D Lapang, who isalso the state Congress President, S C Marak and UnitedDemocratic Party Chief Donkupar Roy.

Other prominent candidates are Mukul Sangma's wife D DShira, National Peoples Party chief and former Speaker P ASangma's two sons Conrad and James.

Counting begins in Nagaland

Kohima: Counting of votes for 59 of the 60Assembly seats in Nagaland began at 8 AM today.

CEO Nagaland J Alam told PTI that counting is being heldin 12 districts, including Pughoboto electoral district.

A total of 59 halls have been provided for counting in thedistricts with three-tier security layer in each.

Over 10,000 counting personnel, including countingsupervisors and counting assistants, are engaged in thecounting process along with micro observers and ElectionCommission appointed observers.

Among those whose electoral fortunes will be decided todayare Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie,opposition leader Tokheho Yepthomi, state Congress President SI Jamir and former Home Minister Imkong L Imchen.

In consonance with an Election Commission directive, theinternational border has been sealed.

The entire process will be videographed, he said.

Polling in Tuensang sadar seat was countermanded followingthe death of Congress candidate and MLA P Chuba Chang just aday before the election on February 23.

Counting begins in Tripura

Agartala: Counting of votes for the 60Assembly seats in Tripura began at 8 AM this morning amidsttight security.

The counting began at 17 venues in eight districts of thestate with three-tier security in each counting hall, sourcesin the office of Chief Electoral Officer said.

Among prominent candidates whose electoral fates wouldbe decided are Chief Minister Manik Sarkar from Dhanpur,Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury from Hrishyamukh, HigherEducation Minister Anil Sarkar from Pratapgarh, Industries andCommerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury from Manu (ST).

The electoral fortunes of TPCC President Sudip Ray Barmanfrom Agartala, Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath ofCongress from Mohanpur and President of the IndigenousNationalist Party of Tripura Bijay Hrankhwal from Ambassawould also be decided.

Around 2,500 employees, including counting supervisorsand counting assistants, have been engaged together with microobservers and Election Commission appointed observers.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed within 100 meter ofeach counting hall where CCTV have been installed.

The 856 km border with neighbouring Bangladesh has beensealed since yesterday.

The elections were held on February 14.

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