Tripura election results LIVE: BJP sweeps Left out as ruling CPM leads in less than 20 seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party looks all set to form the next government in Tripura as election results in the Northeastern state come in.

Exit and opinion polls for the Tripura election had predicted a down-to-the-wire race in the state. However, by noon, the BJP was seen surging ahead of the Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM)-led Left Front in the state and possibly going on to form its first ever government in Tripura.

The BJP continued its strong lead as trends for the Tripura election results came in and the Left was teetering on the brink of losing its Northeastern bastion.

The Left has been in power Agartala for 25 years, with Manik Sarkar staying in the chief minister's chair for the past two decades.

A CPM leader had earlier said that the Tripura election results would impact "national politics". What makes a BJP win in Tripura more impressive is the fact that the saffron party did not win a single seat in the 2013 election to the state legislature.

LIVE UPDATES FROM TRIPURA ELECTION RESULTS:

1:11 PM | The Trinamool Congress, in its first reaction to today's election results, has called the Tripura results a "clear defeat" for the CPM. At the same time, West Bengal minister and TMC leader Partha Chaterjee claimed the BJP and the COM had a "local understanding" and that the Left failed to "raise their voice" against the BJP.

1:08 PM | BJP's Tripura president Biplab Kumar Deb and party MLA Sudip Roy Burman are both currently leading in their respective seats of Banamlipur and Agartala.

12:56 PM | The BJP's alliance partner, Indigenous People's Front Of Tripura is leading in a number of constituencies. IPFT's Narendra Chandra Debbarma is leading in Takarjala, Prasanta Debbarma in Ramchandraghat, Dhirendra Debbarma in Mandaibazar, Prem Kumar Reang in Kanchanpur, Sindhu Chandra Jamatia in Ampinagar, and Mevar Jamatia in Asharambari.

12:46 PM | In Hrishyamukh, the CPM's Badal Choudhury maintains a lead over his BJP rival Ashesh Baidya.

12:35 PM | BJP's supporters have sensed a victory in Tripura. Celebrations have begun at party offices as the party looks set to form its first ever government in Tripura.

BJP supporters celebrate in Agartala as the party looks set to come to power in Tripura (IndiaToday.in/Tapas Bairy)

12:33 PM | The constituencies that the BJP is leading in right now include Agartala, Amarpur, Ambassa, Bagma, Banamalipur, Barjala, Belonia, Chawamanu, Dharmanagar, Fatikroy, and Golaghati.

12:27 PM | Tripura Chief Minster Manik Sarkar may not return to power in the state. However, he may return to the Tripura Assembly as an MLA. Sarkar is currently leading in Dhanpur, his constituency.

12:24 PM | In Tripura's capital of Agartala, the BJP's Sudip Roy Barman is currently leading. In Bagbassa, on the other hand, the CPM's Bijita Nath is leading.

12:15 PM | READ: 3 reasons for BJP's spectacular show in big Left bastion for 25 years

12:10 PM | If the current leads in Tripura hold, the BJP will form the next government. In Nagaland as well, the BJP will likely be a part of the next government with its alliance partner the Nationalist Democratic People's Party. This is how the Northeast will look if both the states go into the BJP's kitty:

How the BJP's presence in the Northeast will look if it becomes part of governments in both Tripura and Nagaland.

11:42 AM | Sensing a historic victory, BJP's Northeast in-charge Ram Madhav addressed a press conference in Agartala, saying that the Tripura election result trends suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the next government in the state. "The CPM gave a spirited fight.. let's wait for the final results," Madhav added.

11:25 AM | The BJP is maintaining its strong lead in the Tripura election results. The party and its allies are currently leading in 40 seats. The Left, on the other hand, has leads only on 18 seats.

10:17 AM | The topsy-turvy nature of an Indian election counting day continues in Tripura. The BJP and its partners, which were trailing behind the CPM in early trends, is now leading on 31 seats. The Left has leads on 24 seats.

10:13 AM | Underlining the importance of the Tripura state election, a Communist Party of India - Marxist leader earlier said that the results of the election would impact national politics. News agency PTI quoted the unnamed leader as saying, "If the Left Front wins in Tripura then there might not be any chance of altering the political draft that has been adopted. But, if the BJP wins then the question of adjustment with the Congress to stop the BJP will again come up."

10:06 AM | Before counting for the Tripura election began today, India Today Television's correspondent Manogya Loiwal spoke to BJP leader Biplab Deb. Here is what he had to say:

Here's what BJP leader Biplab Deb said before Tripura mandate.
(Report by @manogyaloiwal )#ReporterDiary pic.twitter.com/kecxGgElMm

India Today (@IndiaToday) March 3, 2018

10:01 AM | READ: Why Manik Sarkar and CPM face their biggest challenge in over 20 years

8:45 AM | In Meghalaya, citizens are following the election result updates at public gatherings. Seen here is Shillong's Polo Ground where election resutls are being telecast via projectors.

Twitter/ANI

8:01 AM | The Electronic Voting Machines have been opened, and counting has begun in Tripura. Along with Tripura, election results for Meghalaya and Nagaland too will be announced today.

7:58 AM | Among the factors that have boosted the BJP's chances in the Tripura election are the defection of Congress leaders. READ: How turncoats, pay commission may give BJP an edge in Tripura

7:28 AM | This is the scene from near a Bharatiya Janata Party office in the state before the Tripura election results are announced.

The BJP is looking to break the CPM's 25-year hold on Tripura (Photo: IndiaToday.in/Manogya Loiwal)

7:19 AM | Here is what the situation outside a counting centre in Agartala looks like right now. Counting will begin at 8 am for 59 of Tripura's 60 seats. Voting in a seat was cancelled following the death of a CPM candidate.

A counting centre in Agartala (Photo: IndiaToday.in/Tapas)

7:15 AM | With today's election results, the Bharatiya Janta Party will be looking to expand its presence in the Northeast, where the party is currently in power in three states. READ: Will BJP manage to charm the Northeast?

7.05 AM | The counting of votes for the Tripura Assembly is scheduled to begin at 8 AM.

(With inputs from Mangoya Loiwal and Tapas Bairy in Agartala)

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