Page 26 - Northeast India

Candidate more important than party in Meghalaya, says Deputy CM Tynsong

Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday asserted that an individual candidate was more important than a party in the hill state. The NPP leader, who won from Pynursla constituency, said the party hoped to get an absolute majority, but a different mandate was given by the people. "In Meghalaya's politics, individual candidates matter more than the party. It is the nominees who win the elections, not the party," Tynsong told PTI after his victory was announced. "We expected to cross the magic number on our own. We did not expect such a divided mandate," he added. Though the NPP had run the outgoing government in alliance with five other parties, it fought the 2023 assembly polls alone. Asked about the next course of action, the deputy chief minister said, "We had hoped for forming the government alone, but the electorate has given a different mandate. We don't have any option but to go for a coalition government." He, however, declined to comment anything on wh

BJP alliance likely to return in Tripura, Nagaland; trailing in Meghalaya

In neighbouring Meghalaya, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) won 6 seats and was leading in 19, while the BJP was leading in 3 seats

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to decide on alliance with NPP: Meghalaya BJP leader

BJP Meghalaya leader Sanbor Shullai on Thursday said that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will take a call on an alliance with the state's ruling National People's Party (NPP)

Votes set to be counted in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland today

The BJP, which has replaced Congress as the dominant party in the northeast, is optimistic of its prospects in the three states

No hung assembly, NDA will form govt in all three NE states: Himanta

Asserting there will not be hung assembly in either Tripura, Nagaland or Meghalaya, as predicted in some exit polls, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the NDA will form the government with an absolute majority in all the three northeastern states. Sarma, the NEDA convenor, said no NDA (National Democratic Alliance) partner will go into any alliance with either Congress or the Trinamool Congress. "There will be no hung assembly. The NDA will form the government in all the three states," he told reporters here. When asked about candidates for the chief minister's post in the three states, he said there will be a status quo in Tripura and Nagaland. "Tripura will have a BJP CM, while we are in a coalition government in Nagaland," the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said. For Meghalaya, the CM will be decided after considering the number of states won by the BJP. Elections were held in Tripura on February 16, and in Nagaland and Meghalaya on Febru

India approves $3.9 bn hydropower project near China border in northeast

Dibang, which will be built over more than 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) of forest land, faces similar risks, according to Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator for nonprofit South Asia Network on Dams, River

Magnitude 3.7 quake jolts Meghalaya's Tura, 2nd in less than 5 hours in NE

An earthquake of magnitude 3.7 on the Richter scale occurred rocked Meghalaya's Tura in the wee hours of Tuesday, the National Center for Seismology informed.The tremours were felt at 6.57 am, 59 km north of Tura.The depth of the earthquake was reported to be at 29 kms."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.7, Occurred on 28-02-2023, 06:57:18 IST, Lat: 26.04 & Long: 90.11, Depth: 29 Km, Location: 59km N of Tura, Meghalaya," read a post on the official Twitter handle of the National Center for Seismology.This is the second earthquake in the northeast region to be reported on Tuesday.Earlier, in the small hours of Tuesday, an earthquake of magnitude 3.2 struck the Noney district of Manipur, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).The quake struck around 2.46 am, at a depth of 25 km."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.2, Occurred on 28-02-2023, 02:46:39 IST, Lat: 24.67 & Long: 93.66, Depth: 25 Km, Location: Noney, Manipur, India," the NCS said in a tweet.Meghalaya, on Monday, polled

Voter turnout 73.65% recorded till 3 pm in Nagaland Assembly polls: ECI

A largely peaceful voting in the assembly polls with a turnout of over 73.65 per cent was reported from Nagaland, which was earlier a hotbed for militants, till 3 pm on Monday, an official said. However, stone pelting and blank firing caused tension in the Bhandari assembly constituency in Wokha district. A tenuous ceasefire prevails in the state for more than a decade now as peace talks are continuing with NSCN (IM) and other groups and the central government. Voting began at 7 am with over 13 lakh electors set to decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates. Long queues were seen in front of polling stations since 7 am when voting began. Polling percentage is 73.65 till 3 pm. Voting is peaceful as of now, barring a few incidents, the Election Commission official said. The nominees are contesting in 59 out of 60 assembly seats, as the Akuluto seat in Zunheboto district was won uncontested by BJP candidate and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi. Voting is scheduled to end at 4 pm, while .

Naga political talk will soon end with positive solution: Nagaland CM

The Union government has been holding separate talks with the NSCN-IM and the Working Committee of NNPGs since 1997 and 2017 respectively

Election officials reach polling booths crossing rivers in Meghalaya

Election officials made their way to the polling booths across Meghalaya, trekking steep mountainous paths, crossing muddy rivers and walking for hours, as the northeastern state gears up for the assembly polls on Monday. Over 19,000 polling officials have been deployed at 3,419 booths set up for the elections to the 59 assembly seats, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor told PTI. "All the teams that left for their respective polling booths since Saturday have now arrived," he said. The polling teams had to trek steep mountain paths, cross muddy rivers while travelling through difficult terrains -- in some areas through ropeways, to reach their destinations, Kharkongor said. A team headed to Nongriat polling station of Shella assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills district trekked 6,000 steps to reach its destination located near the scenic root bridge, he said. Election officials had to row a boat to reach the Amlarem constituency's Kamsing polling station, which has only 3

Northeast region strong pillar of Act East Policy, trade, tourism, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the northeast is a strong pillar of the Act East Policy and Meghalaya along with the entire region has a strong prospect of trade and tourism

Nagaland election: Kharge claims BJP cheated people on Naga political issue

Accusing the BJP-led central government of cheating the people of Nagaland on the Naga political problem, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that given a chance, it will fulfil the aspirations of the citizens of the northeastern state. Solving the decades-old Naga issue is one of the top-most commitments in the Congress' manifesto, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said at an election rally here. The Narendra Modi government does not have the political will to put into effect the agreed solutions to the Naga political issue and has cheated the people of Nagaland and the country as well, he said. Stating that civil society organisations have been demanding the implementation of political solutions, Kharge claimed that the state government is indulging in delaying tactics on the pretext that more talks are needed. Prime Minister Modi announced on August 3, 2015, that the Naga issue has been resolved with the signing of the Naga Accord which was later renamed as Framework Agreement wit

Women's participation must grow in all state Assemblies: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that the participation of women must increase in all state assemblies, including that of Arunachal Pradesh, for inclusive development of the country. Addressing a special session of the assembly in the northeastern state, she asserted that Arunachal Pradesh plays an important role in the social and economic development of the country and that the "sun of development" is shining over the state. "For overall and inclusive development of our country, there should be more participation of women in every field of work. Participation of women must increase in all the state assemblies including that of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in other institutions of people's representation," she said. Murmu asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an important part of India and a major stakeholder in the Act East Policy. "The Northeast was for long deprived of economic development due to lack of road, railway and air connectivity. But the Centre is giving top ...

Drugs, liquor, cash valued at Rs 147 cr seized in 3 poll-bound NE states

The Commission said that a special inter-agency team has been constituted to control illegal drugs

Election day declared paid holiday in three Northeastern states: Official

This applies to all categories of employees, including the daily wage and casual workers, and also those electors working outside the constituency concerned

PM ended 'mann ki doori' of Northeast, visited 51 times in 8 yrs: Shah

Highlighting the Centre's development push for the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the region 51 times during the last eight years.

NDA govt successful in controlling terror in J&K, insurgency in NE: Shah

After eight years, the BJP-led government at the Centre has been substantially successful in controlling terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North-East and Left wing extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Saturday. Speaking at the passing out parade of the 74th batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) here, Shah said under the leadership of Indian government agencies, police forces in the entire country carried out a successful operation in a single day against an organisation like the Popular Front of India (PFI). After eight years, the government was, to a large extent, successful in controlling terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North-East and Left wing extremism," he said. "Recently by banning the Popular Front of India we have presented a successful example for the world to see," he further said. "This shows how much our commitment towards ...

More than 720 children, women rescues by RPF of NF Railway: Official

Over 720 children and women have been rescued by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) from April to December last year, a senior official said here. Ten human traffickers have also been arrested by the RPF during the period, he said. "During the period from April to December 2022, RPF of NF Railway rescued 686 minor children and 39 women, besides arrest of 10 human traffickers," NFR chief spokesperson Sabyasachi De said. He said that the rescued victims were handed over to volunteers of Childline, NGOs and Government Railway Police or parents, as mandated by law for their safe custody and further course of action. De said four minors were rescued by the RPF from different stations in separate drives on Friday. One runaway minor girl was rescued from Kamakhya Railway Station during a routine joint check by RPF and Crime Intelligence Branch team of Guwahati. She was later handed over to Railway Childline, Guwahati, he said. In another incident, RPF

Poll official suspended for 'defacing' PM Modi's photo in Tripura

A sector officer of Sabroom assembly constituency in poll-bound Tripura has been suspended for allegedly "defacing" a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a drive to remove hoardings and banners from public places, an official said. The action was taken a day after the ruling BJP had urged the Election Commission to take steps against poll officials who defaced PM Modi's photograph in banners and hoardings put up in public places in the state, instead of removing them. It appears that the sector officer went beyond the model code of conduct and applied black colour on a poster inside a private shop. Therefore, it is decided that the officer shall be put under suspension and disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated against him as per the relevant rules, Additional Chief Electoral Officer UJ Mog said in a letter to the district magistrate of South Tripura on Tuesday. State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the Election Commission has taken the acti

PM Modi always prioritised energy sector of Northeast: Hardeep Singh Puri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always prioritised the energy sector of the North East, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said here on Monday. The prime minister's priority is to put the region in the high growth trajectory and as such he is putting great emphasis on the energy sector, Puri said while participating at the run-up to the India Energy Week event here tonight. Without giving any detail, the Union minister said several big projects in the sector are also in the pipeline in the region. The Petroleum and Natural Gas minister was also present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and the Assam government to set up three bamboo nurseries that were signed on the occasion. Each nursery will cover an area of five hectares to accomplish secondary hardening of tissue-cultured bamboo saplings and will be set up in Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur. The three bamboo nurseries will generate saplings that