62.37% Indian voters cast vote in Phase 1 of LS polls

Tripura records highest 79.9%, Bihar 47.49%

Tripura goes to poll Feb 16, Nagaland, Meghalaya Feb 27

The polls in nine states are seen as semi-finals before the Lok Sabha elections next year, where the BJP is hoping for a hat-trick

The Congress lost Meghalaya and failed to score a single seat in Tripura and Nagaland during the recently concluded assembly polls.

In Meghalaya, it appeared likely that the Congress may not return to government if the regional parties can join hands with the BJP.

Modi said the BJP’s impressive performance in Tripura was the people’s answer to “fear, lies and confusion” being spread against his government.

The defeat in Tripura though is being seen as a setback for the Karat camp with which chief minister Manik Sarkar was aligned.

The election was held for 59 out of 60 seats in each of the three Northeastern states.

The BJP, an also-ran until now in the north-eastern state, is making a determined bid to demolish the red bastion of 25 years.