Nagaland Assembly elections 2018: Exit polls suggest massive gains for BJP | All you need to know

  • IndiaToday.in
  • Delhi
  • March 3, 2018
  • UPDATED 01:11 IST
Nagaland Assembly elections (Photo: AP)
Nagaland Assembly elections (Photo: AP)

Counting for the high-stake Nagaland Assembly elections will begin at 8 AM today amid tight security across the state. The assembly elections in Nagaland this year is seen as a triangular contest between BJP, Congress and state parties in the fray.

Exit polls have predicted massive gains for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 38.4 per cent vote share and 25 to 31 seats. It is forecasted that the BJP could outdo the incumbent government yet again with the help of allies.

On the other hand, Chief Minister TR Zeliangs Naga People's Front could get 27.1 per cent votes and 19 to 25 seats.

TR Zeliang of the Nagaland People's Front (NPF) has been the chief minister of the state since 2014. Zeliangs tenure was disrupted briefly last year when NPF chief Shurhozelie Liezietsu held the post for five months.

In the recently held assembly election, Nagaland recorded around 75 per cent voter turnout. Polling was held in 59 out of the total 60 constituencies. As many as 11,76,432 voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 2,156 polling stations in the state.

Of the 195 candidates in the fray, five were women. NPF fielded 58 candidates, Congress 18, BJP 20, NDPP 39, NPP 25, NCP 6, JD (U) 13, AAP 3, LJP 2, while 11 were independent candidates.

Besides the state police force, 281 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), were deployed across Nagaland to ensure peaceful polling.

Here's a quick recap of the Nagaland Assembly elections:

Neiphiu Rio, the three-time former chief minister and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate, was elected unopposed in Northern Angami-II seat.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Nagaland on Thursday announced re-polling in 13 booths spread across nine Assembly constituencies on Friday. The re-polling was held from 7 AM to 3 PM.
The constituencies where the re-polling was held were Tamlu, Peren, Kohima Town, Chizami, Phek, Meluri, Tizit, Pungro-Kiphire and Llongkhim-Chare.
Re-polling was ordered in the other booths following reports of tampering of EVMs, misuse of electoral photo identity cards and miscreants not allowing voters to exercise their franchise.
Although, Nagaland recorded around 75 per cent voter turnout in the Assembly elections this year but in 2013 state Assembly polls, voter turnout was 90.19 per cent.
The violence at Akuluto constituency in Zunheboto district, which witnessed a straight contest between parliamentary secretary and NPF candidate K Khekaho Assumi and BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi, claimed one life and left two injured.
The clash was reportedly between supporters of the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) and the BJP. Police fired blank rounds to disperse the party workers and voting resumed after the situation was brought under control.
Chief Minister TR Zeliang’s Naga People's Front could get 27.1 per cent of votes and 19 to 25 seats. According to polling agency C-Voter, Congress' vote share will be 19.7 per cent, i.e. 4 seats.

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