Assembly Elections 2023 LIVE: Polling in Sohiong Assembly Seat In Meghalaya Adjourned
Assembly Elections 2023: Follow this space to get all the latest news on electioneering and campaigning for Assembly elections in the northeastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
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Background
Assembly Elections 2023: Hello and welcome to this ABP Live blog to find all the latest news from the polling battlegrounds of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. The Election Commission has announced the schedule for Assembly elections in the northeastern states to be held in February-March this year.
The polling in Tripura will be held on February 16. In Nagaland and Meghalaya, votes will be cast on February 27. The results of all three states will be declared on March 2, 2023.
The terms of the state governments in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura are coming to an end on March 12, 15, and 22 respectively.
Tripura Legislative Assembly Election
A four-cornered fight is expected between BJP, Congress, Left, and Trinamool Congress in Tripura where the BJP has changed the CM face to beat anti-incumbency. In 2018, the saffron party won 35 seats and unseated the 20-year incumbent CM, Manik Sarkar of CPI(M).
20 out of 60 seats were dominated by tribals in the last assembly elections held in the state. In the 2018 Tripura legislative assembly election, BJP won 33 seats, the IPFT won 4 seats, the CPI(M) won 15 seats, and the Congress won 1 seat.
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Election
In Meghalaya, Congress emerged as the largest party in the 2018 assembly election with 21 seats but BJP teamed up with the National People's Party to form the government, with Conrad Sangma as the Chief Minister.
In the 2018 Meghalaya assembly elections, the Congress won 21 seats, the National People's Party won 19 seats, United Democratic Party won 6 seats, the People's Democratic Front won 4 seats, Independents got 3 seats, BJP and Hill State People's Democratic Party won 2 seats each, and one seat each went to Nationalist Congress Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.
Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election
Nagaland is likely to see demand for a separate state 'Frontier Nagaland' by tribal groups as a central issue in the polls where Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance is in power. In 2018, NPF emerged as the single largest party but the NDPP-BJP alliance formed a government with support from other parties.
In the 2018 Nagaland legislative assembly elections, Naga Peoples Front won 26 seats, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party won 18 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party won 12 seats, the National People’s Party won 2 seats, JD-U won 1 seat and 1 seat went to the Independent.
Meghalaya Assembly Elections: Polling Postponed In Sohiong Constituency After UDP Candidate's Demise
Polling for Sohiong Assembly constituency of Meghalaya in the February 27 state elections has been postponed following the demise of the state's former Home minister and United Democratic Party candidate from the seat, HDR Lyngdoh. Lyngdoh passed away on Monday after collapsing during a campaign event.
Polling will now be conducted in 59 out of 60 constituencies in the wake of the former Home minister's demise. FR Kharkongor, the chief electoral officer of Meghalaya, told ANI that the Election Commission will announce the poll date for Sohiong constituency later. "Now the election will be held in 59 out of 60 constituencies on February 27," Kharkongor said.
Congress treated Northeastern states as ATMs: PM Modi in Meghalaya
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the Congress and similar parties used to loot Northeastern states and treated them as ATMs, while the BJP considers the Northeast as the growth engine of the country's development. Addressing an election rally in Meghalaya's Tura, the Prime Minister said, "Congress used to remember Meghalaya only during elections. Congress and similar parties used to loot Northeastern states and treated them as ATMs... 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' is secularism for us. For BJP the country and its citizens come first."
PM Modi said that the people of Meghalaya have decided to have a BJP government both in the state and at the Centre.
He further said that Meghalaya will soon host a G20 meeting, adding that people from many developed nations will visit Meghalaya, boosting the state's image.
"We have changed the old thinking and approach for the development of the entire North-East including Meghalaya. Congress governments had considered this part as the last part of the country while BJP considers North-East as the growth engine of the country's development," he said.
EC Orders Sealing Of India-Bangladesh Border In Meghalaya In View Of Assembly Polls
The Election Commission of India has ordered the sealing of Meghalaya's International border with Bangladesh till March 2. Notably, polling for Sohiong assembly constituency has been postponed following the demise of the state's former Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate from the seat HDR Lyngdoh.
Meghalaya has shared a 443 km border with Bangladesh and 885 km with Assam. Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya FR Kharkongor, told ANI that, Meghalaya's International border with Meghalaya and the state border with Assam has been sealed. "We have taken preventive measures to ensure a free and fair election in the State. Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed along the international bordering areas in the state," Kharkongor said.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills district issued an order that movement of individuals will remain strictly prohibited within a one km radius of the India-Bangladesh border of East Khasi Hills district from between 24-March 2. "It is necessary that the International border with Bangladesh must be sealed and movement to and from the international border should be restricted. If such unregulated movement of individuals between the two countries is allowed, then there is a likelihood of law and order problem leading to danger to human life, safety and disturbance to public tranquillity," said the order copy. The district administration of East Khasi Hills district has also imposed Section 144 of CrPC along the bordering areas.
PM Modi's Roadshow Will Help Increasing Party's Vote Share, Says Meghalaya BJP Prez Mawrie
Meghalaya Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ernest Mawrie on Friday exuded confidence that the party's vote share in the state will boost following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vigorous poll campaigning in the state. "PM Modi's today's roadshow in Shillong has become a rock show and people enjoyed the entire programme," he said on Friday.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Meghalaya, especially his roadshow will help BJP to increase the party's vote share. We are very much hopeful that, our vote share may increase to 25-30 per cent. In 2018, our vote share was 9.6 per cent and this time our vote share will be increased after the Prime Minister's visit to the state," he added.
Will Not Change Eating Habits If We Win, Says Meghalaya BJP Chief Ernest Mawrie
Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie has said that if his party wins in the state, it will not change any eating habits of the people.
He told ANI, "If we win, BJP will not change eating habits, there won't be any restrictions (on beef-eating). After coming to power, we'll develop infra in state. We'll form govt with those like-minded parties that are against corruption."
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