With the counting of votes for assemblies of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya ending, BJP along with its regional allies is set to form government in two states. While BJP returns to power in Tripura and Nagaland, it's a hung assembly in Meghalaya with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's NPP emerging as the single largest party.
The performance of Congress and Left - the two parties which dominated Tripura politics for decades - was actually comparable to the fledgling party TIPRA Motha in these polls. Watch full report here.
Counting of votes begins for elections in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
The BJP fought on all 60 seats in Meghalaya for the first time and constantly targeted National People's Party leader and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma for running the "most corrupt" state government in the country. The BJP was a partner in the state government but broke ties ahead of the polls. Sangma's NPP has been predicted to emerge as the single largest party hinting at the hung assembly. The state has been ruled by coalition governments for over 40 years.
The BJP in alliance with regional parties secured an historic win in Tripura in 2018 and it is expected to come back to power when votes are counted today but with a slimmer margin, according to the exit poll predictions. Newly-formed TIPRA MOTHA which is headed by former Congress leader Pradyot Debbarma is likely to emerge as kingmaker in the state and may upset BJP's re-election party.
Results for the 60-seat Nagaland assembly elections will be declared today. The exit polls have predicted a sweep for the ruling coalition of BJP and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party. Last elections, Naga People's Front had emerged as the single largest party but the alliance between the BJP and NDPP thwarted their attempt to form a govt in Nagaland.