BJP-NDFF has joined hands in the Nagaland State Assembly elections and is jointly leading in 32 seats. It is speculated that BJP will part ways with NPF. NPF is currently leading in 23 seats.

The counting of votes is underway in the three northeast states - Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. The full results of the high-stakes assembly elections in the three states will be known later today. So far the BJP under its state chief Biplab Kumar Deb has taken lead over CPI leader and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who has been in power for 20 years. In Nagaland, the Naga People's Front of TR Zeliang is leading marginally over Neiphiu Rio's Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which has partnered with the BJP. In Meghalaya, the Congress looks to be leading and Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has won in both the constituencies from where he fought the assembly election. Some of the main candidates to watch for are: Mukul Sangma (Meghalaya), Biplab Kumar Deb (Tripura), Agatha Sangma (Meghalaya), Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), TR Zeliang (Nagaland) and Manik Sarkar (Tripura)

The BJP is set to end the two-decade run of the CPM's Manik Sarkar as Tripura Chief Minister. The party and its new regional partner Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party have also pulled ahead in Nagaland and will form a government if they hold on to current leads. In Meghalaya, the ruling Congress is leading but could fall short of a majority and is scrambling to try and ensure that the BJP does not manage to gather regional allies for a post-poll alliance to form a government.