Guwahati: Polling has begun on Monday morning at 7 am in Nagaland and Meghalaya to elect a new Assembly, amid tight security.

Over 13 lakh voters will decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates contesting in 59 out of a total of 60 seats in Nagaland, while Meghalaya is all set for polling in 59 of the 60 assembly seats, where more than 21.6 lakh voters will seal the fate of 369 candidates.

In Nagaland, around 59 out of a total of 60 seats is all set to go to polls. However, Janata Party candidate and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi won the Akuluto constituency in Zunheboto district uncontested.

Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V Shashank Shekhar said that over 11,500 polling staff have reached 2,315 polling stations in 59 assembly constituencies. Around 13 lakh voters, including 6,55,144 women, would decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates, including four women, in the elections. Around 12 political parties, including national and state parties, are in the fray.

On the other hand, in Meghalaya, over 21 lakh (21,75,236) electorates, including 10.99 lakh women and 10.68 lakh men will decide the fate of 369 candidates.

At least 19000 polling personnel have been stationed on poll duty. The officials have said that security arrangements have been beefed up for controlling the law and order situation in the state.

There are about 81,000 first-time voters in the state. Polling will be held at 3,419 polling stations across 59 Assembly constituencies in the state. Of the 60 Assembly constituencies in Meghalaya, 36 fall in Khasi, Jaintia Hills region while 24 are in Garo Hills region. As many as 369 candidates are in the fray of which 36 are women. Of the total candidates, 44 are contesting as Independents.

The polling in Sohiong constituency has been postponed due to the death of one of the candidates.

The counting of votes for both states will be held on 2 March.