Nagaland Assembly Election results 2018 LIVE counting: BJP-NDPP leads in 8 seats while NPF holds advantage in 5

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

Fifty nine percent of the candidates for the 27 February Assembly elections are crorepatis with JD(U) nominee Ramongo Lotha being the richest with a total wealth of Rs 38.92 crore, an analysis of the affidavits said. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the affidavits of 193 aspirants out of a total of 196 candidates, found out that 114 candidates are crorepatis.

Lotha, a retired IAS officer, has movable assets worth Rs 22,81,960 and immovable assets at Rs 38,69,40,000 taking his total wealth to Rs 38.92 crore, the ADR analysis said. The JD(U) nominee is contesting the elections from Sanis seat in Wokha district.

Main contest between NPF and NDPP-BJP

The main contest in Nagaland polls would be between the ruling Naga People's Front and the National Democratic Progressive Party-BJP alliance. The NPF has completed three terms in office. Odds are stacked against it as anti-incumbency and public resentment over its lack of performance is high. But socio-political and economic issues took a backseat this time around in elections as religion became a talking point after the Church appealed to the people not to vote for BJP.

Traditions in Nagaland keep women out of politics even as 2018 polls see five female contestants, highest in state's history

Nagaland participated in its first election in 1964, two years after attaining statehood. In 1969, for the first time, the state saw two women — Ravole U and RL Kinghen — contesting the Assembly polls. However, both of them lost the election after getting 32.6 percent and 37 percent respectively of the votes polled in their respective constituencies.

Since then Nagaland has witnessed ten Assembly elections, but the state is yet to see a woman representative in the state Assembly. Until 2013, a total of 16 women had contested. The first and only time Nagaland saw a woman legislator was when United Democratic Party member Rano M Shaiza was elected to Lok Sabha in 1977. When Rano fought state elections in 1982, even she ended up forfeiting her deposit.

Nagaland has a mostly Christian population

It should be noted that Nagaland is a Christian state. The term Christian state does not only refer to the fact that the population of the state is mostly Christian, but also the reality that the Church has tremendous influence over the Government, society and politics in the state. The results will bear impact on the future of Naga politics.

Elections a test of power for the Church too

Nagaland Assembly polls this time around are not only a test of power for the political parties but also for the Church. This time around the Church appealed the people to not vote for BJP. On the other hand Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Ministerial candidate of NDPP-BJP alliance has appealed that this alliance would bring about good days for Nagaland. Whom will the people listen to? The counting of votes today would answer this question.

Counting begins

Nagaland outranks rich states in health and gender parity, but poor infrastructure and jobs remain a concern

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 ten 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 1 December, 1963 – undergoes polling on 27 February, 2018.

C-Voter predicts victory for BJP-NDPP

In Nagaland, the BJP is contesting the polls in alliance with the newly-floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the two are contesting 20 and 40 seats respectively.

The C-Voter survey has predicted a victory for the BJP-NDPP with the combine likely to get 25-31 seats with 38.4 percent vote share. It predicted that the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) will bag 19-25 seats with a vote share of 27.1 percent. NPF had won 38 seats and 47.65 vote share in 2013 elections.

This time around, the Congress tally may come down to 0-4 seats, according to C-Voter survey.

Vote share in the last two elections

Nagaland election by the numbers

A total of 11,91,513 electorate, including 5,89,806 women and 26,900 new voters, decided the fate of 195 candidates, including five women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March.

According to the C-Voter exit poll for 2018, of the 60 seats in Nagaland, the BJP-NDPP alliance is likely to clinch 25 to 31 seats. The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) is likely to get 19 to 25 seat share, the exit poll predicts. Congress and Others will see 0 to 4 and 6 to 10 seats respectively.

To follow coverage from specific states, click on the links below:

First round of polling was held on 27 February

Polling for 59 of the 60 Assembly seats was held in the northeastern state on 27 February. Former chief minister and NDDP president Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected uncontested from Northern Angami II seat.

73 percent voter turnout in Nagaland

Around 73 percent voter turnout was reported in the re-polling at 13 polling stations across nine constituencies in Nagaland on Friday, an election department official said.

"Altogether 5,728 voters out of the 7,841 exercised their franchise in the 13 polling stations. That means 73.05 percent votes were polled," said CEO Nagaland Abhijit Sinha in Kohima on Friday.