Kohima: The ruling NDPP-BJP alliance on Thursday retained power obtaining a clear majority in the Nagaland Assembly elections by already winning 34 of the 59 seats which went to polls on February 27.
Till 5 PM, NDPP registered victory in 22 seats and were leading at another three. Its alliance partner BJP won 12 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Deputy Yanthungo Patton both won their seats with huge margins in the Northern Angami-II and Tyui assembly constituencies, respectively.
The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance will form the government for the second successive time after ousting the once formidable Naga People’s Front (NPF) in the previous elections held in 2018.
The alliance has announced that if voted to power, Rio will remain the Chief Minister.
The National Peoples’ Party bagged five seats while the regional party Naga Peoples Front (NPF) could manage to win only one seat and was maintaining a lead in another constituency.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has won five seats and are leading in two more. Republican Party of India made its inroads into the Nagaland political scene by winning two seats it contested. Lok Janashakti Party (Ram Vilas) too won a seat and was leading in another constituency.
Independents triumphed in four constituencies.
A Janata Dal (United) contestant was ahead in one seat.
A historic feature of the state Assembly election this time is that for the first time there would be women MLAs in the House.
Two women candidates – Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu – were elected on the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) ticket from the Western Angami AC and Dimapur-III constituencies, Respectively.
The Congress’ poor run continued in Nagaland. The grand old party, which failed to open its account in the previous state Assembly polls five years ago, is not in the lead in any of the constituencies so far.
The Assembly polls were held for 59 seats on Monday when 85.79 percent polling was registered. The Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kazheto Kinimi earlier won uncontested from the Akuluto constituency after the Congress nominee withdrew from the race.
On Tuesday, repolling was held in four polling stations.
Nagaland Assembly has the unique feature of having no opposition as all parties in the 60-member assembly backed the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party-led government.
