Nagaland Elections 2023 LIVE: Hello and welcome to ABP Live Nagaland Elections 2023 live blog, Follow this space for all the latest updates and breaking news. Polling to 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly began today at 7 am with more than 13 lakh voters set to seal the electoral fate of 183 candidates.

Of the total 60 seats, 59 are up for grab in today's contest as the Akuloto constituency in Zunheboto district of the state was won uncontested by BJP nominee and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi.

The polling will be up till 4 pm today and the votes will be counted on March 2 along with Meghalaya and Tripura.

The incumbent Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party are contesting the election on a 40:20 seat sharing basis. The Congress, which ruled the state till 2003 and does not have any member in the current House, has fielded 23 aspirants.

The NDPP-BJP alliance is seeking a mandate for the second term with Neiphiu Rio as the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance.

The Naga People's Front, which won 26 seats in the last assembly polls, has fielded candidates in 22 seats, but one of them withdrew, leaving 21 in the fray. The Communist Party of India is contesting on 1 seat, Nationalist Congress Party and National Peoples' Party on 12 each, Rising Peoples' Party on 1, Janata Dal (United) on 7, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on 15, Republican Party of India (Athawale) on 9, and Rashtriya Janata Dal on 3 seats.

A total of 19 nominees will contest as Independents.

During the high-decibel election campaign that ended on Saturday, all the contesting parties made a last-ditch effort to win over the voters in bid to swing their mandate in their favour. Many top BJP leaders, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah canvassed for party candidates during the last leg of the campaigning.

The electors include 6,47,523 male and 6,49,876 female voters, who are eligible to exercise their franchise in 2,291 polling stations

23:14 PM (IST) • 27 Feb 2023

Over 83% Of 12 Lakh Electorate Cast Their Vote, Says CEO Shekhar

Over 83 pc of more than 13 lakh electorate cast their vote in single-day state election which passed off by and large peacefully, Chief Electoral Officer V Shashank Shekhar said.

17:40 PM (IST) • 27 Feb 2023