Tripura Exit Poll Results Live: Exit polls predict big win for BJP and allies in Tripura, Nagaland; NPP to retain Meghalaya

Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland exit polls: The India Today exit poll has predicted that the BJP will win 36-45 seats in the Tripura Assembly election. Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland are the first states to go to the polls this year and the ruling and opposition parties, and political pundits have a keen eye on the results. Although the three states will only get a new government till March 2.

While the BJP aims to consolidate its position in the Northeast, it is definitely looking at a stiff fight from the regional powers. Tripura, in 2018, had seen a major shift in its political structure as the BJP besieged the Left bastion, winning 44 of the 60 Assembly seats. However, this year, the party is facing stiff resistance from Pradyot Debbarma-led Tipra Motha, which enjoys support among the tribals.

In Meghalaya, the fight continues to be a four-cornered contest. In the last Assembly polls, although the Congress had emerged as the single-largest party winning 21 seats, Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party, which had won 20 seats, had managed to form the government following an alliance with the BJP. However, this time, with no pre-poll alliance in place, the Congress, BJP, NPP and TMC are looking to win a majority on their own. In Nagaland, CM Neiphiu Rio, whose NDPP had formed the government following an alliance with the BJP in 2018, has renewed its ties with the saffron party. The Naga People’s Front (NPF), which had emerged as the single-largest party in the last Assembly polls faces a tough election as many of its leaders have since quit to join NDPP.

Tripura | India Today exit poll: Comfortable victory projected for BJP+ with up to 45 seats

India Today-Axis India exit polls predict the BJP+ to take 36-45 seats out of a total of 60. 

The Left-Congress alliance may end up a distant second with just 6-11 seats. The Tipra Motha Party may end up with 9-16 seats. 

India Today's projected vote share shows the BJP gaining in both urban and rural areas. The pollsters also predict a consolidation of Bengali voters in favour of the BJP.

Meghalaya records 74%.voter turnout and Nagaland records 82% till 5 pm

The percentage of voter turnout in the Meghalaya Assembly Elections was recorded  at 74.32 per cent till 5 pm, while it was 81.94 per cent for Nagaland.