If early trends hold constant, the BJP with its allies is set to expand its footprint in the northeast region as it is surging ahead with an impressive lead in Nagaland and is set to conquer the Left citadel of Tripura. In Meghalaya, the verdict seems to be fractured with Congress slightly ahead.
According to trends available at 11 am, the biggest upset is likely to take place in Tripura, which has been the fortress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) for the last five terms.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies were leading on 36 of the 59 seats while the CPI(M) was ahead on 23 seats and the Congress took the lead on 2 seats.
In the 2013 Assembly Polls, the CPI(M) had won 49 seats, while the Congress bagged 10 seats and the BJP failed to win even a single seat in the state.
In Nagaland, the BJP combine was ahead on 26 seats of the 60 seats while the NPF is ahead on 18 while the Congress was leading on 1 seat.
In the 2013 polls, the NPF had won 38 seats, the Congress won 8 seats while the BJP bagged just one seat.
In Meghalaya, of the total 60 seats, the Congress was ahead on 21 seats while the BJP took lead of 6 seats. However, the NPP, which is an ally of the NDA government at the Centre was leading on 18 seats. Therefore, an alliance between the BJP and the NPP seems to be in the offing.
However, in all probability, Meghalaya is likely to see a hung assembly with independent candidates leading on as many as 15 seats.
In 2013, the Congress won 29 seats while independents bagged 13 seats.