NPP Chief Conrad Sangma resigned as Meghalaya Chief Minister before the Governor on Friday afternoon and staked his claim to form government in the state. 

In Meghalaya, the NPP ended up winning 26 seats, which is four short of the majority mark of 30. Both the Congress and TMC won 5 each, while the BJP could finish with 3. 

Shillong | Meghalaya CM Conrad Sagma submits his resignation letter as CM before the Meghalaya Governor and stakes claim to form new government. pic.twitter.com/kK43uB3X6z

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2023

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Friday morning arrived at Raj Bhavan to meet with Governor Phagu Chauhan and to stake claim to form the government.

Shillong | Meghalaya CM and National People’s Party (NPP) chief Conrad Sagma arrives at Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Phagu Chauhan and to stake claim to form the government. pic.twitter.com/XERH1N0gYx

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2023

The district administration of West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya has imposed curfew in Sahsniang village till further orders, following post-vote counting violence, news agency ANI reported. 

Meghalaya | The district administration of West Jaintia Hills has imposed curfew in Sahsniang village till further orders, following post-vote counting violence pic.twitter.com/yZ1n4sjqi4

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2023

With results in for all 60 Assembly seats in Nagaland, the NDPP-BJP alliance with 37 legislators is in a comfortable position to form the government.

Immediately after the death of Bir Bikram Manikya in 1947, the royal family of Tripura had fled to Shillong: The Queen-regent, an heir-minor to the throne, and their ministers in tow. Before his death, Bir Bikram had tried and failed to counter the Left in the state. Now his grandson, Pradyot Debbarma, is back in the thick of politics in the state – fuelled by social media, and energised by young voters – euphorically spearheading the movement to “save his people”. This curious turn of events, rather a double return – a return of the king and a return to the kingdom – not only exposes the limits of identity politics but also offers historical insights into the rise of BJP and decline of the Left Front in Tripura.

The Left Front under Manik Sarkar had expended its energies towards destroying the ideological basis of identity politics, but the BJP breathed new lease of life into the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), and their alliance defeated the Left Front in the 2018 election. However, the rise of Tipra Motha and its swelling support base put the BJP-IPFT alliance in jitters just before the 2023 election. This time the BJP went into the election cautiously confident of holding on to its seats – even as its alliance partner, IPFT, self-destructed into oblivion. Tipra Motha has not only turned the separate statehood demand against the BJP-IPFT, but the demand has become the sole issue for the majority of the tribal voters. No wonder, then, despite the massive war chest and state machinery at its disposal, the BJP had to recruit the firebrand, P K Jamatia, who made her political career by championing a separate state. Read more. 

The return of the Neiphiu Rio-led Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance to the 14th Nagaland Assembly with a comfortable majority was expected. Two of the alliance’s major opponents, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Congress, lacked a strong organisation and popular leaders.

They did not have the political will and resources to match the NDPP-BJP. The en masse defection of 21 NPF MLAs to NDPP in April 2022 seemed to have cleared the decks for the Rio-led NDPP-BJP alliance. While the BJP is likely to remain a key player in the coalition government, the NDPP has consolidated its position by occupying the space vacated by the NPF. The poll results are significant for four reasons: First, the election of two women for the first time — the Nagaland assembly never had a woman member despite Naga society being seen as “egalitarian”. Second, the polls underline the rise of the NDPP as a regional party.

Third, Neiphiu Rio is set to equal S C Jamir’s record of assuming the CM’s post for the fifth time. He is also poised to eclipse the latter’s record of holding office for more than 15 years. These are no ordinary achievements for a regional party in a small state that is marked by a fluid bipolar, yet multiparty, electoral system where factionalism and defection are endemic. Fourth, the expansion of the BJP in a Christian-dominated state like Nagaland is significant. It has been made possible by the state’s fluid party system and should not necessarily be seen as a function of the wide acceptability of its ideology and cultural agenda. Read more. 

Chugging smoothly along the broad gauge tracks wedged between endless rubber plantations, the Agartala-Silchar Express would reach its destination, the state capital, in less than an hour. Having exhausted his stock of beverages and water bottles, hawker Kalipada Sarkar sat by the train door, appearing tired, yet content. “Aibo, aibo, BJP oi abar aibo… amrai jaani chandabazi ki jinish (The BJP is returning, only we know what forced subscriptions mean for people like us)”. Ram Mandir, dhara 370, BBC — emotive issues which have earned the BJP rich dividends elsewhere — are no pull for Sarkar, whose affinity towards that party are for other reasons.

“My day used to start with paying subscriptions to some wing of the party or other, which seemed endless. And on top of that, we were forced to take up subscriptions of the party mouthpiece,” Sarkar told me. In its moment of triumph, while the Northeast offers the BJP many reasons to cheer, its opponents, who stand diminished, could do with much-needed introspection. While it may not register with many uninitiated in Tripura’s political history, Sarkar offered a cogent reasoning to not trust the Left, whose tenure in power saw the perpetuation of what academics describe as “party-society”, essentially a societal structure where the presence of the Party is all pervasive. That, claimed Sarkar and so did many others, was not the case anymore, notwithstanding the BJP’s failings on other counts such as generating employment, bringing industries, improving education and healthcare services. Read more. 

As the ruling DMK-backed Congress nominee looked to register a massive win in the Erode East bypoll, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin called it a public endorsement of the “Dravidian model of governance” of his 22-month old government.

The Congress’s E V K S Elangovan, backed by the DMK, is leading comfortably against his nearest rival, KS Thennarasu of the AIADMK. Stalin said the ground was being prepared for a victory of the DMK-led ‘Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA)’ in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. “During the campaign I repeatedly sought people’s support for the Dravidian model of governance.

People have given a verdict saying it should be done with more vigour,” he said. Read more. 

Just two years after its birth, TIPRA Motha, the party led by Tripura royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, has emerged as the second largest party after the ruling BJP in the Assembly elections The tribal party that rode the elections on the slogan of ‘Greater Tipraland’, has secured victory in 13 seats – all reserved for tribals, and has come second in six other seats. Greater Tipraland, which was initially touted as a separate state, was later revised as a demand for an ‘autonomous state’ as per Article 244 (A) of the Constitution, for greater legislative, administrative and financial autonomy than the tribal ADC currently has.

Read Pradyot's interview with the Indian Express 

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday described the party's victory in Tripura and Nagaland as “affirmation” of the northeast region's resolve to progress on the path paved by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He termed the BJP's poll result in Meghalaya, where the party could win only two seats though it will remain a part of the next government, a “humbling experience”. “BJP's win in Tripura & Nagaland is an affirmation of North East's continued resolve to prosper on the path paved by vision of Hon PM @narendramodi Ji.

The future is glorious & safe. Much gratitude to @JPNadda Ji for his continued guidance,” Sarma tweeted. In Tripura, BJP won 32 seats and its ally, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, one, cruising past the half-way mark of 31 to retain power. The saffron party bagged 12 seats in Nagaland, while its partner Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) won 25 seats in the 60-member Assembly, and the alliance will continue in power.

“Meghalaya's verdict has been humbling! Heartening that more people have posed their faith in us and helped us improve our vote share than last elections. It strengthens our resolve to continue to serve people with more conviction driven by vision of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji,” Sarma added on Twitter. (PTI)

The Congress on Thursday termed Meghalaya's NPP seeking the support of its erstwhile partner BJP to form the next government in the state as a "paradox" after the saffron party's central leadership described the Conrad K Sangma dispensation as one of the "most corrupt" in the country.

Talking to PTI, Congress MLA Ronny V Lyngdoh, who won from the Mylliem assembly constituency, said the opposition will continue to work with like-minded parties despite facing a defeat. "There lies the paradox. Union Home Minister Amit Shah says that this (NPP) is the most corrupt government. How can they work with the same party?" Lyngdoh mentioned.

Addressing a poll rally in North Tura constituency, Shah had on February 16 said the BJP broke its alliance with the NPP before the elections in Meghalaya so that it could contest all the assembly seats and emerge stronger. (PTI)

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has successfully led the BJP in its efforts to retain power in the state, with the party beating anti-incumbency and the emergence of TIPRA Motha to cross the majority mark and bag 32 seats.  The CM himself won from the constituency of Town Bardowali by 1,257 votes. He speaks with Debraj Deb about the BJP’s victory and the state government’s plans going ahead. Excerpts:

You have won for the second time in less than a year and the BJP has secured a majority on its own.
The entire credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and others for bolstering the confidence of party karyakartas in the state. Everyone, including grassroots workers such as ‘panna pramukhs’ and booth presidents, worked hard and it showed in the results today.

The elections were held amid the ECI’s ‘Mission Zero poll violence’. What is your appeal to the people now?
Despite being a triangular fight, the elections were held peacefully. We have appealed to everyone on our side and the Opposition to maintain peace. We do not want post-poll violence. These incidents of violence were common in the past. They should not repeat. Read Full Interview

Hailing the BJP’s performance after poll results were declared Thursday from Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as evidence of the country’s respect for democracy, and “a vote for progress and stability”.

He also sought to draw a line all the way from the Northeast down to the south, saying that the results have proved that allegations about the party being anti-Christian were wrong — and a “BJP coalition would come to power in Kerala also” as the people will “realise that the Left and the Congress have joined hands to loot the state”. Addressing leaders and workers at the BJP headquarters, Modi said, “Their (the Opposition’s) ecosystem always tried to brand the BJP — initially as a baniya party, then an urban party which does not have any support in rural India. But the BJP kept proving all of them wrong. They said we are anti-tribal, but the party won all tribal seats in Gujarat recently. Now, like the Dalits and backward communities, the tribals are also with us. Minorities were fearful about BJP for years but the people of Goa and now from the Northeast have exposed such propaganda. The Christians in Nagaland and Meghalaya keep supporting us.”

Attacking the Congress-Left combine in Tripura, Modi pointed out that both parties have fought each other in Kerala. “The people in Kerala have seen this, they have seen their alliance… The truth is that the two have joined and are looting the state. So I am confident that in Kerala also, BJP will form a coalition government,” he said.

The next Assembly elections in Kerala, where the Left has been in power since 2016, are due in 2026. Read Full Report

With seven of its candidates emerging victorious in the Assembly elections on Thursday, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has become the biggest Opposition party in Nagaland and is set to get the leader of Opposition post in the House.

“This is the result of our hard work in northeast India over the past 10 years. I had travelled across Nagaland for the past four months and especially concentrated on the state’s eastern parts. The people of Nagaland have entrusted us with their votes and we will be holding a meeting of our legislative party within two days to decide on the leader of the Opposition,” said Narendra Verma, the NCP general secretary for the Northeast.

Verma said that at a time when the Congress could not win even one seat in Nagaland, his party’s winning the highest number of seats in the Opposition camp was a big achievement. “We contested 12 seats. While we won seven, we lost five seats by a very thin margin,” he said. Read More

A clear majority in Tripura, a significant stake in Nagaland and enough power to wield influence in Meghalaya — Thursday’s poll results from the Northeast have come as a significant victory for the BJP.

The brightest spot for the party was the win in Tripura, overcoming apprehensions about the consolidated Left-Congress opposition and the tribal push against it by the newly formed Tipra Morcha of Pradyot Manikya Debbarma. More so, because the BJP had wrested the state from the Left in 2018 to mark an ideological milestone in the region.

In Tripura, the BJP’s voteshare and seat tally came down but the margin was still decisive — 32 seats in the 60-member assembly, down from 36 in 2018. The BJP-led NDA romped home to a facile win in Nagaland, where the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) is its senior partner. In Meghalaya, the party could not gain much — its tally remained two in the 60-member assembly — but its leaders are at work and have enough power to retain influence in the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP). Read More

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP President J P Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah during the victory celebrations at the BJP HQ in New Delhi, after the party's good performance in Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya Assembly polls. (Express photos by Amit Mehra) 

Addresing the party workers, PM Modi further said that the way the northeast poll results have been extensively highlighted shows the region is distant neither from 'Dilli' (Delhi) nor 'Dil' (heart). 

PM Modi also credited BJP's consistent wins to the 'triveni' of work and work culture of its governments and its workers' commitment to service. 

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters during the party's victory celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Today's results show there is full faith in democracy and democratic institutions." 

As the Bharatiya Janata Party retained Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi for the victory celebrations.

Assam Chief Minister and the BJP’s Northeast face, Himanta Biswa Sarma, is again the man of the moment, as the party looked set to return to power in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Sarma strategised the party’s campaign in the three states and also led the electioneering. Now, with Tripura and Nagaland in BJP pocket, he is leading the post-election talks to put together a government in Meghalaya.

After the elections concluded and, even before the results day, Sarma was at work, holding talks with both the TIPRA Morcha’s Pradyot Manikya Debbarma – who had expressed his disinterest in going with the BJP as it rejected his demand of Greater Tipraland — and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Conrad Sangma. Read More

With the BJP retaining Tripura, a state where it marked a significant ideological victory against the Left in 2018, the next big question is about its leadership. Although before the elections the party publicly acknowledged that incumbent Chief Minister Manik Saha is its CM face, speculation is rife that the party may review it now that the elections are over.

Sources in the party said the national leadership was contemplating appointing Pratima Bhoumik, at present the Union Minister of State for Empowerment and Social Justice, for the top job in the state to “send the right message to the northeastern region as well as to the entire nation” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. But, according to a party insider, it may not happen now, and the change may happen later given that Saha has led the party to victory. If Bhoumik is appointed, she will become the first woman chief minister in the history of the Northeast.

Asked about the prospect of Bhoumik being appointed CM, a senior leader said, “It cannot be ruled out. The Centre can move Manik Saha to the central government if it decides to appoint her.” Read this Political Pulse by Liz Mathew 

Terming it a 'historic day' for the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said it is evident again that for peace, development and prosperity, the BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is people's preference. 

Congratulations to Shri @JPNadda Ji, Tripura CM @DrManikSaha2, Shri @Rajib4BJP, and the karyakartas of @BJP4Tripura whose tireless efforts secured BJP's victory.

It is evident again that for development and prosperity, BJP led by PM @narendramodi is people’s preference.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 2, 2023

After the declaration of results of the assembly polls in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, Shah described the party's re-election in Tripura as a 'victory of pro-development politics' and thanked the people of Nagaland for choosing 'peace and progress'.  He also thanked the people of Meghalaya for their support and blessings to the BJP and said the party under Prime Minister Modi will leave no stone unturned in serving the people and creating a bright future for them.

I thank the people of Nagaland from the bottom of my heart for choosing peace and progress by re-electing the PM Modi-led NDA back in power.

The duo of PM @narendramodi and CM @Neiphiu_Rio will continue to advance peace & development in the state and fulfil people’s aspirations.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 2, 2023

With the National People's Party on course to end up with 26 seats, which is four short of the majority mark of 30 in the 59-member Meghalaya Assembly, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has called Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his support and blessings in forming the new government.

Sri @SangmaConrad , Chief Minister of Meghalaya, called @AmitShah ji, Hon'ble Home Minister, and sought his support and blessings in forming the new Government.
.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 2, 2023

As the BJP and allies comfortably crossed the halfway mark in Tripura and Nagaland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday congratulated the people of the two states for the mandate. With a hung verdict looming over Meghalaya, Modi expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for supporting the BJP.

Taking to Twitter, Modi thanked the people of Nagaland for NDPP-BJP alliance's win, saying the double-engine government will keep working for its progress.

I thank the people of Nagaland for blessing the @NDPPofficial-@BJP4Nagaland alliance with yet another mandate to serve the state. The double engine government will keep working for the state's progress. I laud our party workers for their hardwork which ensured this result.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2023

For Tripura, he termed the mandate as a vote for progress and stability and asserted that the BJP will continue to boost the state's growth trajectory.

Thank you Tripura! This is a vote for progress and stability. @BJP4Tripura will continue to boost the state's growth trajectory. I am proud of all Tripura BJP Karyakartas for their spectacular efforts at the grassroots.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2023

Thanking the people of Meghalaya, PM Modi vowed that the BJP will keep working hard to enhance the development trajectory and focus on empowering the people of the state.

Grateful to all those who have supported @BJP4Meghalaya in the Assembly polls. We will keep working hard to enhance the development trajectory of Meghalaya and focus on empowering the people of the state. I am also thankful to our party workers for the effort they put.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2023

Nagaland now has two women MLAs, with the NDPP’s Salhoutuonuo Kruse winning from the Western Angami constituency. The state, which has had 13 Assemblies so far, never had a woman MLA before Thursday’s result. Hekani Jakhalu, who won from the Dimapur III constituency, is the other woman MLA to be elected to the House.

Kruse and Jakhalu were the only two women candidates fielded by the NDPP. The BJP’s Kahuli Sema and the Congress’s Rosy Thomson, the two other women candidates in the fray, are trailing in their constituencies.

For Kruse, 56, this election was her first foray into electoral politics. Know more about Salhoutuonuo Kruse

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra has suffered a major setback in its traditional stronghold of the Kasba Peth Assembly constituency in Pune, where the Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar trounced the former’s candidate Hemant Rasne by over 10,800 votes.

The Kasba Peth bypoll was a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress, with Dhangekar being the Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s common candidate.

Buoyed by the Congress candidate’s victory, which has come as a shot in the arm to the MVA, state Congress president Nana Patole said, “It is a verdict of people against the high-handedness of BJP which blatantly misused power and money.” Click to read this Political Pulse

Living up to its promise, the small regional outfit United Democratic Party (UDP) looked set to emerge as the second largest party in the Meghalaya Assembly after the results were declared Thursday.

A part of the ruling Meghalaya Development Alliance coalition, including the National People’s Party (which was set to emerge as the single largest) and BJP, the UDP had contested separately like its other partners. It was headed to win 11 seats, nearly double its tally of 6 last time and far ahead of other non-NPP parties.

In what drew some curiosity, in the days leading up to the election, five MLAs from different parties, including a minister, had joined the UDP. However, the party has always been a serious player in the state. Read More

The Exit polls had predicted a return of power of the BJP in Nagaland with coalition partner National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). The results are on the predicted lines as the NDPP BJP raced into the lead right from the beginning and has crossed the majority mark comfortably with a joint tally of 33 seats in the 60-member Assembly. The coalition is also leading in another three states.

On Thursday, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)’s Hekani Jakhalu became the first ever woman to be elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Though the state has had 13 state Assemblies so far, not one woman has been elected as an MLA till date. As counting was underway in the state on Thursday afternoon, Jakhalu was the sixth person to be officially declared winner by the Election Commission of India.

She received 45.16 per cent of the 31,874 votes in the constituency, just ahead of the Lok Jansakthi Party (Ram Vilas Paswan)’s Azheto Zhimomi, who received 40.34 per cent of the votes. The contest was neck and neck to the finish, with the numbers constantly see-sawing between the two. Read More

According to the Exit polls, the BJP was tipped to retain Tripura, and the results have been in line with the predictions with the ruling BJP inching towards victory as it has crossed the halfway mark in the 60-member Assembly, winning in 31 seats, and leading in 2. As projected in the Exit polls, royal scion Pradyot Debbarma-led TIPRA Motha has bagged 13 seats.

The Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA Motha), which emerged as a force to reckon with in the run-up to the Assembly elections in Tripura, is leading in 11 seats, chipping away at the ruling coalition of BJP-IPFT, which held these seats over the last five years.

However, considering how well-attended its rallies were, the electoral yield of the party, led by royal scion Pradyot Debbarma, appears underwhelming, especially after it appeared to have struck a chord with voters from the indigenous communities with its core demand for a separate state of “Greater Tipraland”.

While the TIPRA contested 42 seats, even fielding Bengali candidates in unreserved seats in a bid to tackle the possibility of ethnic polarisation and consolidation of Bengali votes in the BJP’s favour, it was really in contention only in the 20 seats that are reserved for STs. Read this Political Pulse

In a major setback for Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's National People's Party, three-time MLA James Sangma has lost by 18 votes.
James Sangma, the elder brother of CM Conrad Sangma, lost to the TMC’s Rupa Marak in Dadenggre constituency. A heavyweight, James held various key portfolios in the NPP-led government, including home, law, and power.

In a nail-biting finish, BJP ally NDPP’s second woman candidate Salhoutuonuo Kruse has won the Western Angami seat by just 7 votes. She will join Hekani Jakhalu as MLA in the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, which is set to be the state’s first ever assembly to have women MLAs. A while back, Jakhalu, also from NDPP, had won from Dimapur-III seat, becoming the first-ever woman MLA after 60 years since Nagaland attained statehood.

Celebrations break out at BJP office in Agartala as the party has won 15 seats and is leading on 18 of the total 60 seats in Tripura. CM Manik Saha, former CM and party MP Biplab Deb and party leader Sambit Patra also joined in the celebrations.

Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha congratulated the electors for choosing the BJP for a second term and promised the party would work for the development of Tripura ahead and would form ‘Ek Tripura, Srestha Tripura’.

“PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Party president JP Nadda and other senior leaders have campaigned here on central welfare schemes, Act East Policy and took our development initiatives to the people, along with our panna pramukhs and other organizational leaders. It all went in favour of us. My only issue ahead is development and we shall keep doing that. The election has been peaceful this time on February 16. My appeal to all party workers and opposition sides is to maintain peace and make sure no violence occurs anywhere,' said Dr. Manik Saha.

#WATCH | Tripura: Celebrations at BJP office in Agartala as the party has won 15 and is leading on 18 of the total 60 seats in the state.

CM Manik Saha, former CM and party MP Biplab Deb & party leader Sambit Patra join in the celebrations. pic.twitter.com/V1SWlYQN70

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2023

Incumbent Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is all set to retain the constituency of South Tura by a margin of nearly 3,000 votes. BJP’s Bernard Marak has polled 7260 votes.

Speaing to reporters on the results, Sangma said: "Thankful to the people of the state for voting for our party. We are short of a few numbers, so we will wait for the final results to come out, and we will decide how to go forward."

Supporters of Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma's National People's Party are seen celebrating and welcoming him as the party has won 5 seats and is leading in over 20 seats so far.

#WATCH | Supporters of CM Conrad Sangma's National People's Party welcome him and dance in celebration as the party has won 5 seats and is leading on 20 seats so far#MeghalayaElections2023 pic.twitter.com/UWTsRozLsK

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2023

Incumbent Nagaland Chief Minister and the NDPP-BJP alliance’s CM candidate Neiphiu Rio has won with a thumping majority from his stronghold, Northern Angami II. 

Tripura CM Manik Saha has collected his winning certificate as he wins the election from the Town Bardowali constituency. 

"I am feeling good and after winning I am getting this certificate so what can be better than this," he told news agency ANI.

Tripura CM Manik Saha collects his winning certificate as he wins the election from the Town Bardowali constituency

"I am feeling good and after winning I am getting this certificate so what can be better than this," he says#TripuraElection2023 pic.twitter.com/2kEkYgPahH

— ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2023

The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in Meghalaya was leading, while the B JP was ahead in 10 assembly segments, TMC in 9, Congress in 6, UDP in 4 and others in 9, according to the trends.

Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar celebrated his victory from Kasba Peth assembly seat, along with supporters outside the counting booth on Thursday.

(Express Photos by Pavan Khengre)

The Congress’s performance in the Northeast elections was far below its own expectations, with only bye-election results in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal bringing it some cheer.

Though the party’s performance in the Tripura and Meghalaya Assembly elections was not up to its expectations, the party can draw some hope from winning a handful of seats in Tripura, where it had drawn a blank last time, and maintaining some presence in the Meghalaya Assembly. In Nagaland, the party did not have much hope. In Meghalaya, the Congress was the single-largest party in the 2018 elections, with 21 MLAs but went into the polls this time without a single legislator.

In November 2021, 12 legislators, including former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, switched over to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The others too jumped ship and joined other parties. Read more. 

The BJP+NDPP is well past the halfway mark in Nagaland. 

News18: BJP+NDPP ahead in 39 (winning in 26), NPP in 4 (winning in 2), NPF in 4 (winning in 2), Others in 13 (winning in 6)
India Today: BJP+NDPP ahead in 39, NPF ahead in 1, Others ahead in 20 
NDTV: BJP+NDPP ahead in 39, NPF in 1, Others in 20 

Congress candidate Byron Biswas was ahead of the TMC's Debashish Banerjee in the Sagardighi Assembly bypoll, in what could be an upset loss for the ruling party in West Bengal. Banerjee is a distant relative of Mamata Banerjee.

The BJP had fielded Dilip Saha. If Biswas wins, he will be the only Congress MLA in the Assembly. And, according to TMC sources, if the party lost in Sagardighi, what would be interesting to see is if the minority vote has shifted to the Congress-CPIM alliance because Sagardighi has almost 63% minority vote. Read more here.

In Chinchwad, as of 01:50 PM, the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate Ashwini Jagtap was seen leading over NCP's Nana Kate by 6.366 votes.

The situation remains about the same in Meghalaya. The NPP is ahead in 26 seats, just shy of the majority mark. 

Times Now: NPP ahead in 18 (winning in 8), Congress in 4 (winning in 1), BJP in 3, and Others in 20 
NDTV: NPP ahead in 26, UDP in 10, Congress in 5, TMC in 5, BJP in 3, and Others in 10 
India Today: NPP ahead in 26, Congress in 5, BJP in 3, Others in 25 
News18: NPP ahead in 27 (winning in 14), TMC in 6, Congress in 5, BJP in 4, and others in 17

In Tripura, the BJP remains well past the majority mark, according to multiple news channels.  But with the BJP taking a comfortable lead, the TIPRA Motha's prospects as kingmaker appear to be diminishing. 

India Today: BJP+ ahead in 34, Left+Congress ahead in 14, TMP ahead in 12 
NDTV: BJP+ ahead 34, Congress+Left in 14, TIPRA ahead in 12 
Times Now: BJP+ ahead in 20, TIPRA ahead in 8, Congress+Left ahead in 9

After three rounds of counting, Congress candidate Elangovan secured 27,843 votes, leading in the Erode (East) bypolls in Tamil Nadu. AIADMK's Thennarasu polled 9,146 votes, according to election authorities.

The bypoll was held on February 27 and was necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MLA Thirumahan Everaa.

According to the ECI website, AJSU party's Sunita Choudhary is leading the Ramgarh assembly bypolls in Jharkhand by a 19,529 vote margin over Congress rival Bajrant Mahto.

AJSU party has tied up with the BJP for the bypolls, while Congress is contesting the bypolls as an ally to the JMM-led coalition.

After Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar won Kasba Peth bypolls on Thursday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray referred to it as a "victory of the people."

He said, "The BJP needs to introspect if the gaddari was right or wrong and if it is helping them or damaging them. This is a victory of the people. They could not accept the gaddari and lowly politics of BJP and hence they gave this decision."

Additionally, state Congress president Nana Patole thanked the people of Kasba Peth. He said, "Even though BJP put all its top leaders to win this election, the people have given them an answer."

Commenting on Fadnavis' statement made at Vidhan Bhavan earlier today, he said, "First they should look inward, in their own house/state and then speak of other states. He should have been gracious enough to congratulate me. But that is his choice."

Fadnavis, soon after Congress' victory, congratulated Patole, however, said, "Three states had elections and Congress is no where to be seen. So you need to introspect with us."

Take a look at the results so far, according to the Election Commission. 

?? Nagaland: NDPP-BJP ahead in 34 (including 5 wins), NPF in 3, Congress in 5. 

?? Tripura: BJP ahead in 29 (including 3 wins), CPI ahead in 11, Congress ahead in 4, TMP in 12 

?? Meghalaya: NPP ahead in 22 (including 4 wins), TMC in 5, Congress in 4, PDF in 2 

In Meghalaya, the NPP ahead but still well shy of the majority mark. 

News18: NPP ahead in 28 (including 12 wins), TMC ahead in 6, BJP and Congress ahead in 4 each, and others ahead in 17 
NDTV: NPP ahead in 24, UDP ahead in 11, TMC ahead in 5, Congress in 4 and BJP in 3, and others in 12 
Times Now: NPP in 20, Congress in 4, BJP in 3, Others in 26 
India Today: NPP in 24, Congress in 4, BJP in 3, and others in 28

Ahead of results in Tripura and Meghalaya, the possibility of a hung Assembly in the two states saw hectic backroom meetings in both the ruling and Opposition camps.

While the BJP’s national leadership and senior leaders in the Northeast were contemplating the next steps if the party fell short of a majority in Tripura, though the party seemed headed for a simple majority, they were also considering various options in Meghalaya.

The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) is leading in the early trends in Meghalaya, but whether it would get a clear majority in the 60-member Assembly remains unclear. Liz Mathew reports

Soon after Congress' Ravindra Dhangekar won the Kasba Peth assembly seat Thursday, defeating BJP's Hemant Rasane, Maharashtra party leaders reacted to the victory in Vidhan Bhavan. 

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, after the state Congress President Nana Patole announced the results, congratulated the latter on the victory. He said, "We have to accept results, just as you will have to accept what happens in Chinchwad. We will introspect a bit, just like you have to." 

"The only question is it has now come to a point where you get one victory and you feel the need to stand up in the assembly and announce it. Three states had elections and Congress is no where to be seen  So you need to introspect with us," Fadnavis added.

In Tripura, the BJP chief spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said that the saffron party was ready to accept all demands of the TIPRA Motha, other than that for Greater Tipraland, news agency PTI reported. As counting continues in the state, BJP is only slightly over the majority mark with the number vulnerable to change as the counting progresses. 

The TIPRA Motha party, which has emerged as a possible kingmaker,  is riding on its plank of “Greater Tipraland”, a proposed autonomous state for tribals inside Tripura which would have greater legislative, administrative and financial autonomy than the existing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) administration.

As of 12:40 PM, Left-supported Congress candidate Bayron Biswas is leading over TMC's Debashish Banerjee in Sagardighi assembly seat, by a margin of 7694 votes.

Moreover, in Jharkhand's Ramgarh assembly seat, AJSU party's Sunita Choudhary is leading over Congress' Bajrang Mahto, by a margin of 16,863 votes.

We are closest to getting a clearer picture of winners and losers in Nagaland, where some of the leads have started converting into wins. The BJP+NDPP alliance continues to charge ahead and is now well past the majority mark. 

NDTV: BJP+NDPP ahead in 39, NPF ahead in 2, Congress ahead in 1, Others ahead in 18 
Times Now: BJP+NDPP ahead in 36, NPF ahead in 2, Congress ahead in 1, Others ahead in 16
News18: BJP+NDPP ahead in 36, which includes 10 wins,  NPF ahead in 2, Congress ahead in 2, Others in 16