Voting begins in Nagaland, Meghalaya; 352 candidates in fray in both states
Polling is being held at 2,291 booths, of which 196 are managed by women polling personnel and 10 by people with disabilities
Voting to elect new assembly representatives in Nagaland and Meghalaya began at 7 am in both states amid tight security across all polling stations.

People were seen queuing up outside polling booths in Shillong and Kohima, capitals of Meghalaya and Nagaland respectively, to cast their ballots early in the morning; voting will end at 4 pm. The counting of votes will take place on March 2.
A total of 352 candidates are in the fray in both the northeastern states where elections are being held for 59 seats each. The strength of both assemblies is 60 seats each. A BJP candidate was declared unopposed in Nagaland while polling was cancelled in one seat in Meghalaya following the death of a candidate.
In Nagaland, more than 1,300,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 183 candidates in 59 assembly seats. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi won the Akuluto constituency in Zunheboto district uncontested.
Polling is being held at 2,291 booths, of which 196 are managed by women polling personnel and 10 by people with disabilities.
“Security has been enhanced in all districts to keep a check on law and order and ensure the polling process is conducted peacefully,” a police official said.
ABOUT THE AUTHORUtpal ParasharA seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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