Tripura: BJP likely to form govt for 2nd consecutive term

Agartala, March 2 (IANS) The ruling BJP is likely to form government for the second consecutive term in Tripura as it has won four seats and is leading in 29 others in the 60-member Assembly.

Counting of votes is in progress in 60 centres at 21 locations across the northeastern state.

According to the latest available trends and announcements of results, the tribal-based Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which for the first time contested the Assembly election in 42 seats, was leading in 12 seats followed by CPI(M) with leads in 11 seats and Congress in three seats.

The candidate of BJP ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) is leading in Jolaibari seat in southern Tripura.

BJP candidates won in Amarpur, Kamalasagar, Mohanpur and Santir Bazar.

Tripura Chief Minister and BJP candidate Manik Saha is leading in Town Bordowali seat, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma is ahead in Charilam seat, Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik in Dhanpur seat, Rampada Jamatia in Bagma, Sushanta Chowdhury in Majlishpur, Ratan Chakraborty in Khayerpur, Surajit Datta in Ramnagar and Ram Prasad Paul in Surjyamaninagar.

The CPI(M) candidates are leading in 11 seats, including Pratapgarh, Barjala, Bamutia, Belonia, Hrishamukh, Sabroom, Sonamura.

Among the important CPI(M) candidates leading are state party Secretary Jitendra Chowdhury (Sabroom seat), Sudip Sarkar (Barjala), Dipankar Sen (Belonia), Shyamal Chakraborty (Sonamura).

Congress, which contested the February 16 Assembly elections in seat sharing adjustments with the Left parties, is leading in Agartala, Banamalipur, and Kailashahar seats.

The Congress candidates leading in the counting of votes include Sudip Roy Barman in Agartala seat, Gopal Chandra Roy in Banamalipur seat and state Congress President Birajit Sinha in Kailashahar seat.

Among the important TMP candidates leading include Chitta Ranjan Debbarma (Ambassa seat), Pathan Lal Jamatia (Ampinagar), Animesh Debbarma (Asharambari) and Paul Dangshu (Karamchara).

In the February 16 elections to the 60 seat Tripura Assembly, 89.95 per cent of the 28.14 lakh voters exercised their franchise and will decide the fate of 259 candidates, including 31 women.

Counting of votes in Tripura, Meghalaya & Nagaland begins

Northeast, March 2 (IANS) Counting of votes, polled in the February Assembly elections in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, began on Thursday morning under three-tier security measures, including central paramilitary forces, officials said.

Poll officials said that prohibitory orders have been promulgated in and around all counting centres as a precautionary measure.

The Election Commission has appointed a General Observer for each Assembly constituency while several other officials, including micro-observers and counting supervisors, were appointed for the counting process.

Officials said that metal detectors and CCTVs were installed in each counting hall and the entire counting process was being videographed.

The postal ballots would be counted first and then the EVM votes.

Assembly elections were held on February 16 in Tripura, where 89.95 per cent of the 28.14 lakh voters exercised their franchise to decide the fate of 259 candidates, including 31 women, in fray for the state’s 60 seats.

Officials said that counting is on at 60 centres in 21 locations across Tripura.

In the Meghalaya and Nagaland Assembly elections on February 27, 85.17 per cent of Meghalaya’s 21.75 lakh electors and 85.90 per cent of Nagaland’s 13.16 lakh voters cast their ballots.

Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer F.R. Kharkongor told IANS that vote counting is taking place at 13 centres in all 12 district headquarters and one sub-divisional headquarter in Sohra.

Nagaland election officials said that the votes are being counted in 59 centres across the 16 district headquarters.

Balloting was not held in one Assembly constituency in each Meghalaya and Nagaland, which also have 60-member Assemblies.

Polling was not held in Sohiong constituency in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district, following the death of United Democratic Party candidate, H. Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh. In Nagaland, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kazheto Kinimi was re-elected unopposed from the Akuluto constituency after his only opponent, Khekashe Sumi of the Congress withdrew his candidature.

A total of 183 candidates, including four women, were contesting in Nagaland and 369 candidates, including 36 women, in Meghalaya.