India's EC sounds poll bugle: Tripura to vote on Feb 16, Meghalaya and Nagaland on Feb 27
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar speaks during a press conference in New Delhi
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced the assembly poll dates for the northeastern states of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.
The state elections in Tripura will be held on February 16, while Nagaland and Meghalaya will vote on February 27. The counting of votes will begin on March 2, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Wednesday. All three states have 60 seats each.
While Tripura is currently ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) runs the Nagaland government.
The National People's Party (NPP), the only political party from the northeast to have a national party recognition, runs the government in Meghalaya.
“There is no place for violence in a democracy, we are working towards a violence-free election,” Kumar said during the press briefing, adding that 228,000 voters were added to electoral rolls of these three states.
“We have asked the youth who are due to turn 18 years before the polling date so that we can add them with a welcome kit. As many as 10,000 youth have applied from these three States,” he added.
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
Man with babyish face spends Rs 10 lakh on beard transplant to be taken seriously at work
)
'Driven and courageous': Salman Khan backs student protests, urges education system reforms without political interference
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
World's top 7 most liveable cities in 2026 — Check where India and Pakistan stand
)
'Guru is the...': Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shares message on education amid calls for his resignation
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
)
Balen Shah's diplomatic U-turn? Nepal PM to hold one-on-one meetings with India, China envoys
)
IND vs ZIM, 1st T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?
)
Dharmendra Pradhan's 1997 paper leak protest surfaces amid calls for resignation
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
Restaurant owner on trial in South Korea after serving 49,000 ants to diners | Gravitas
)
Did Putin help Iran target CIA bases? US probes Russia's role in Gulf drone strikes
)
Pan Am plane wreckage that remained untraceable for 74 years has finally been found
)
Sonam Wangchuk says the government has agreed to consider Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs against Zimbabwe
)
ICC ODI Rankings: Joe Root jumps big, India trio close in on No. 1 spot
)
'Is that a back-up Trump?' Mysterious look-alike standing behind Donald Trump baffles netizens
)
'National mourning in America': Iran's IRGC issues chilling 9/11-style threat to US
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
)
Maharashtra Bandh call on July 23: What all you need to know
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
'Why was I detained?': Dhurandhar actress Ayesha Khan questions Mumbai police after brief custody during protest
)
'We acted immediately...': Indian PM Modi breaks silence on paper leaks as NEET protest, calls for Education Minister's resignation grows
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
US House approves $95 billion budget for Trump's war against Iran. Where will the money go?
)
'Don't waste...': CJI Surya Kant breaks silence on Delhi police brutality against protesting students
)
Trump blames AI for viral video of mystery objects thrown from White House window, WH says ‘maintenance’. Who's lying?
The announcement of the chief election commissioner paves the way for a tight election schedule for this year, in which nine states are headed for polls. This year is also significant for the ruling BJP, as it would give a sense of how people will vote for the all-important general elections in 2024, where the incumbent PM Modi is largely expected to retain power.
Addressing the concerns raised by some political parties regarding the efficiency and integrity of the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the CEC chief noted that the parties who have expressed doubts over the machines earlier had won elections through the same process.
Among the three states, Tripura will be closely watched as the BJP had in 2018 created history by defeating the Left, which had ruled the state for 25 years.
This time, the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are expected to join hands to take on the saffron party in Tripura.
WATCH WION LIVE HERE: