Itanagar: The counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim commenced at 6 am on Sunday. Early trends indicate that the BJP is poised to retain power in Arunachal Pradesh, while the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is on track for a sweeping victory in Sikkim.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is leading in 33 out of 50 seats, having already secured 10 seats unopposed. The state has a total of 60 assembly constituencies. The National People's Party (NPP) is leading in six seats, with other parties leading in nine seats. In Sikkim, the SKM is leading in 31 seats, while its rival, the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), is ahead in one seat. Sikkim has a total of 32 assembly constituencies. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Pema Khandu is set to return for a third term, along with his Sikkim counterpart, SKM's supremo Prem Singh Tamang.

Visuals show that the vote counting is being conducted amid tight security in both states. In Arunachal Pradesh's Papum Pare district, counting is underway despite heavy rainfall. Voting in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim took place on April 19. Sikkim recorded a voter turnout of 79.88 percent, while Arunachal Pradesh saw a turnout of 82.95 percent. In Sikkim, the primary contest is between the ruling SKM and Pawan Kumar Chamling's SDF. The BJP and Congress also fielded candidates in the state.

Among the 146 contestants in Sikkim, prominent candidates include Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, his wife Krishna Kumari Rai, former Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, former Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, and BJP’s Narendra Kumar Subba. The SKM and SDF each fielded 32 candidates, the BJP had 31 candidates, the Congress contested 12 seats, and the Citizen Action Party-Sikkim had candidates in 30 seats.

In the 2019 election, the SKM, led by Prem Singh Tamang, won 17 seats, while the SDF secured 15 seats. For the 60-member Arunachal assembly, the main contest is between the ruling BJP and the Congress. The BJP fielded candidates in all 60 seats, while the Congress contested 19 seats. The National People’s Party (NPP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also fielded candidates.

The BJP has already won 10 seats unopposed, as no other candidates filed nominations in these constituencies: Bomdila, Chowkham, Hayuliang, Itanagar, Mukto, Roing, Sagalee, Tali, Taliha, and Ziro-Hapoli. Prominent candidates in Arunachal Pradesh include Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, both from the BJP, who have already won their seats. Other key candidates are Biyuram Wahge (BJP), Ninong Ering (BJP), Karikho Kri (NPP), Pani Taram (BJP), Kumar Wali (Congress), Kamlung Mosang (BJP), Wangki Lowang (BJP), and Jampa Thirnly Kunkhap (Congress).

In the previous Assembly election in 2019, the BJP won 41 seats, the Janata Dal (United) bagged seven, the NPP won five, the Congress secured four, the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) took one, and two Independents were victorious.

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