Nagaland Assembly Election results 2018 LIVE counting: Kiren Rijiju says BJP to form govt in state, may ally with NPF

Party-wise vote sharing in Nagaland till 5.15 pm

BJP vs Congress vote share in North Eastern states

NPF leaders tight-lipped about post-poll strategy

Most of the prominent NPF leaders are holed up inside Hotel Zaphu in Kohima. They are tight-lipped about their post-poll strategy and are refusing to speak to the press. NPF has won 20 seats till now and is leading in five. They had won 38 seats in 2013 assembly polls. Inputs from Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

BJP to form govt in Nagaland, may ally with NPF: Kiren Rijiju

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. Rijiju, who extensively campaigned for the BJP and its ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland, said the Congress was nowhere to be seen as the party has not won a single state in the 60-member Assembly.- PTI

TR Zeliang rules out alliance with NDPP

Eshak Konyak wins by 905 votes

Outgoing speaker Imtiwapang Aier of NPF retains his seat by mere 62 votes

Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma slams party in-charge for defeat

Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma hits out at party's in-charge for the 3 North Eastern states, CP Joshi, for the defeat. Alok Sharma questioned why Congress MLAs, workers and leaders left the party in Nagaland.- News 18

Repeated victories have boosted our confidence for 2019: Amit Shah

Amit Shah says, "Victory after victory is a positive sign.This has boosted our confidence even more for 2019." The BJP president, however, says that the golden period for BJP will not begin until they come to power in Odisha, West Bengal and Kerala.

NPF's Eshak Konyak leading ahead of NDPP's Awan Konyak now by 933 votes

Even if we don't count Meghalaya, BJP and NDA has governance in 21 states: Amit Shah

Ruling party NPF retains Tenning seat

Meanwhile, ruling party NPF retains Tenning seat while standing MLA Namri Nchang loses on NDPP ticket by 32 votes.- Inputs from Pranav Prakash, 101 Reporters

The left isn't right for any state, this has been proven, says Amit Shah

We will march towards Karnataka, with this massive victory with us: Amit Shah

Earlier, BJP was known as Hindi region's party but now we are spread across India: Amit Shah

I believe this is victory of PM Narendra Modi's Act East policies: Amit Shah

Rhakila fighting from Tuensang Sadar-II constituency for sixth time

This is the third time BJP's Rhakila, 66, is fighting the Assembly poll from Tuensang Sadar-II constituency. She fought on an NCP ticket in 2008 and lost by 353 votes. She fought under the banner of BJP in 2013 and lost by 1075 votes. 81-year-old Kejong Chang from NPF, three-time MLA, is leading here with 1,799 votes this time. Rhakila is a distant third. - Inputs from Pranav Prakash, 101 Reporters

BJP map of India, now

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks Nagaland for results

Thanking the north east states, Modi says, "I thank the people of these states for supporting the good governance agenda and ‘Act East Policy’ of BJP and our valued allies. We remain committed to working towards fulfilling the dreams & aspirations of the people."

BJP leader Ram Madhav lauds 'spectacular performance' of party in state

Alemtemshi Jami loses both Mongoya and Angetyongpang

Alemtemshi Jamir, former Nagaland chief secretary and working president of newly-formed NDPP, fought in two seats this election. He‘s lost both Mongoya and Angetyongpang Assembly constituencies by 348 and 950 votes respectively. - Pranav Prakash/ 101 reporters

TR Zeliang wins from Peren seat

Chief minister and NPF candidate TR Zeliang wins from Peren seat against NDPP's Iherie Ndang, EC sources say. 

Meanwhile, Sarbananda Sonowal congratulates BJP on its performance

Will Nagaland get its first woman MLA?

Awan Konyak is leading in Aboi Assembly constituency with 1320 votes against standing MLA Eshak Konyak (NPF). Awan’s father, Nyeiwang Konyak, four-time MLA and former education minister, had lost the 2013 polls by 693 votes. He passed away on 31 January this year. Inputs from Pranav Prakash/ 101 Reporters

NPF candidate Kejong Chang won from Tuensang Sadar

NPF candidate Kejong Chang wins from Tuensang Sadar - II while NPP candidate L Khumo Khiamniungan won from Thonoknyu.

Electoral picture gets clearer

Many would prefer to have NPF back in Nagaland

30-year-old Angule says she wants the ruling party NPF back in Nagaland. She wants an improvement on roads and employment. Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

Independent candidate Wangto Konyak giving tough fight to BJP candidate Paiwang Konyak

In Tizit constituency in Nagaland where violence was reported on the polling day (a crude bomb made of gelatin was thrown to disrupt the polling process), independent candidate Wangto Konyak is giving a tough fight to the BJP candidate Paiwang Konyak. Wango is trailing by a mere 70 votes.

Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/101Reporters

TR Zeliang says NPF is willing to govern in coalition with BJP

Nagaland chief minister TR Zeliang says the alliance with BJP continues and he hopes the saffron party will join his government after the elections, reported NDTV. He said he has had discussions with Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kiren Rijiju about the coalition.

Kiren Rijiju projects Neiphiu Rio as NDPP-BJP's chief-ministerial candidate

Kiren Rijiju says NDPP-BJP's chief-ministerial candidate is Neiphiu Rio. But depending on the results, decisions will be taken in the future, reported India Today.

Former Assam CM and Congress veteran Tarun Gogoi on trends so far

We knew we would perform poorly in Tripura and Nagaland. In Tripura, the BJP took away most of our strong candidates and in Nagaland, we weren't as active in our campaigning as we should have been. We will score a zero in both states. We lacked in organisational skills, and one can't achieve much at the last moment. The trends are not surprising.

About the BJP emerging strong in these states, it is not a new phenomenon that Northeastern states have voted for the party in power at the Centre. Small states often do that, so it isn't a big deal. But after their recent losses in bypolls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, BJP winning a few seats in the North East would not be of significance.

Tovihoto Ayemi of BJP wins from Dimapur-1

NPF largest party by vote share

Trends in Western Angami

Kevisekho Kruse of the NDPP leads in Western Angami by 76 votes.

Kiren Rijiju says the trends in all three states point to a new political direction

Nagaland voters hope for peaceful resolution of decades-old insurgency, respite from illegal taxes

Long before India became an independent country, the Naga cessationist groups began the struggle for a sovereign Naga nation. In the year 1975, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) was born demanding sovereignty and integration of 'Naga territories' in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh as well as in Myanmar.

The Government of India signed a ceasefire agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland — Isac-Muivah [NSCN(IM)], the biggest insurgent outfit in the state in the year 1997 and has now begun peace talks with six other such groups. These efforts, though heartening, have hardly changed anything on the ground as these gun-holding groups are still capable of doing whatever they want.

Break out election for the BJP in the North East

The BJP seems to be closing in on forming a government in Nagaland and emerging as the single largest Opposition in Tripura. Though the result might be interpreted as a disappointment for BJP given the attention it had given to Tripura to wrest power, in realistic terms it is an astonishing improvement to leap from zero to more than 20 seats. It points to an inescapable fact that the BJP is now truly a pan-India party. The north eastern success posits BJP as a serious player even in areas where there is no Hindi-speaking population. Its performance in Nagaland is stupendous, given its position as a party that advocates prohibition of cow slaughter. To sum, even in they fall short at the final hurdle in Tripura, this is a breakout election for BJP in North East that holds promise for the future.

ECI trends: NPF leading on 6 seats, NDPP-BJP leading on 7

NPF takes strong lead in Nagaland

Counting of votes underway in Kohima town

Neikiesalie Nicky Kire of NDPP leads by 399 votes.

Input by Armstrong Chanambam/101Reporters

NDPP banking on Neiphiu Rio's popularity, NPF's 'misrule' to capture state in electoral debut

Neiphiu Rio's decision to join NDPP in January this year didn't come as a surprise. His difficult relationship with NPF began ever since he left the chief minister's chair in 2014 to take his place in the Lok Sabha. His role in the subsequent tug-of-war between NPF chief Shurhozelie Liezietsu and current Chief Minister TR Zeliang has been a source of anxiety in Nagaland. Liezietsu and Zeliang have now made peace with each other – bad news for Rio, whose position in NPF has been challenged by both at different times.

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.

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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.