The Election Commission of India has announced the poll schedule for three North-East Indian States viz., Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland where the tenure of the incumbent Legislative Assemblies is coming to an end in March.

It may be recalled that Assembly polls in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland were held in March, 2013. Meghalaya Assembly’s tenure ends on 06th March this year while it would be 13th March and 14th March respectively for the completion of Assembly tenures in Nagaland and Tripura. As per the poll schedule, Tripura would vote on 18th February while Meghalaya and Nagaland would vote on 27th February.

The announcement precedes a series of consultation meetings held by Chief Election Commission Achal Kumar Jyoti and Election Commissioners with the officials of all the above-said three States. Jyoti made the announcement about the poll schedule at his press-meet in New Delhi yesterday. The two-phase election commences on 18th February and ends on 27th February.

Counting of votes in the three States would be taken up on 03rd March and results are expected to be out by the evening on the same day. Code of conduct for political parties comes into effect from 24th January in Tripura and from 31st January in Meghalaya and Nagaland. Observers point out that CPI-M, which is in power in Tripura (besides Kerala), may find it hard to keep the Congress and the BJP at bay.