Election Commission announces Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura poll dates
What's the story
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced dates for elections of the Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland assemblies today. They will be conducted in two rounds. Tripura will vote on February 18. Meghalaya and Nagaland will vote on February 27. Counting for all states will be on March 3. Further, results will also be declared on the same day. Here's all about it.
Details
What else did the ECI announce?
Chief Election Commissioner, AK Joti asserted that the model code of conduct comes into effect from today. Also, election expenditure limit shall be Rs. 20L per candidate. The Voter-verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) and Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the three states. Along with a voter assistance desk, basic facilities and arrangements for people with special needs have been made.
Significance
What does this imply?
Sixty-member assemblies of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura will expire on 6, 13 and 14 March, respectively. With this announcement, the campaign-trail in all the three states will heat up. In Tripura, BJP aims to break the left monopoly. Congress fights to retain its only north-eastern state of Meghalaya. In Nagaland, the Naga insurgency might cause trouble for the BJP supported Naga People's Front-led alliance.
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Meanwhile, ECI will have a busy 2018
Meanwhile, as ECI kicks off 2018 with elections in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura, it has a busy year ahead. Apart from these three states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram will also go to polls this year.