High voting in 2 state elections in northeast India
Over 83 percent of the more than 1.3 million electorate cast their vote on February 27 in the single-day Nagaland state election which was largely peaceful. Polling was held in a total of 2291 polling stations across 59 of the total 60 constituencies of the state. One seat of Akuluto in Zunheboto district was won uncontested by BJP nominee and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi. All the Electronic Voting Machines are being kept in strong rooms amidst tight security. The counting of votes will be held on the 2nd of March. CEO V Shashank Shekhar said that three-tier security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of the EVMs. A total of 183 candidates are in the fray in Nagaland including four women candidates. In Meghalaya, about 75 percent of over 2.14 million voters cast their vote in the polling. The polling held for 59 Assembly constituencies in the state was held while the election to the Sohiong constituency was adjourned due to the death of a candidate. EVMs have been kept in strong rooms at all district headquarters. The authorities have made three-tier security arrangements at the strong rooms at all district headquarters. 22 companies of armed security forces have been deployed for the same. Exit polls held by various media organizations predicted a fractured mandate in the state as the verdict on the political future of the total 369 candidates including 36 women from 4 national parties and 8 more state and other parties were sealed in the EVMs.