Nagaland Elections 2023: As the counting is underway for the election to 60-member Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party gained a lead on 51 seats in the early trends after one hour. The counting of votes for 59 out of 60 constituencies began at 8 am for the election held on February 27. 


Meanwhile the early trends for Naga Peoples Front showed a lead on 8 seats while Congress gained one seat and Independents were ahead on two seats. 


In the run-up to the Nagaland Assembly Election 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kazheto Kinimi secured an uncontested win from the Akuluto assembly constituency. His only opponent, Congress candidate Khekashe Sumi, withdrew his candidature giving BJP a seat even before the counting of votes. 


Over 13 lakh eligible voters exercised their franchise in the north eastern state with an 83 per cent turnout recorded, according to V Shashank Shekhar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). Polling took place at 2,291 stations across 59 of the total 60 constituencies. This year's turnout was 1.99 per cent lower than the 2018 poll, which recorded an 85.62 per cent voter turnout, Chief Electoral Officer said. 


Meanwhile, repolling was conducted in four polling stations in Nagaland on Wednesday. The repolling was held at the New Colony polling station in the Zunheboto constituency, Pangti V in the Sani constituency, Jaboka Village in the Tizit constituency and Pathso East Wing in the Thonoknyu constituency. Election officials in the state did not cite any reasons for the repolling in the four polling stations previously


The exit polls have predicted the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party to win majority seats.


the NDPP is slated to get 28-34 seats with a vote share of 33 per cent, according to India Today-My Axis. The poll also gives BJP a surprising 16 per cent vote share and 10-14 seats, possibly coming from eastern Nagaland where it focused its campaigning. Congress is predicted to get 10 per cent votes and between 1-2 seats and the rump of the Naga People's Front which remained after some 21 MLAs joined NDPP is forecast to get 13 per cent vote share and between 3-8 seats.


Times Now similarly predicts 27-33 seats for NDPP, 12-16 seats for BJP, and 4-8 seats for NPF. While Zee News-Matrize is giving 35-43 to NDPP-BJP, it has also predicted 2-5 seats for the NPF and 1-3 seats for the Congress.