Kohima, March 2 (UNI): The ruling NDPP-BJP alliance on Thursday retained power obtaining a clear majority in the Nagaland Assembly elections by winning 37 seats in the 60-member House.
The state went to polls on February 27.
The NDPP registered victory in 25 seats, while Its alliance partner BJP won in a dozen constituencies, 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), which had finished as the single largest party bagging 26 seats in 2018, could manage to win only two seats.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which had drawn a blank five years back, sprung a surprise by clinching seven seats. Republican Party of India (Athawale) also made inroads into the Nagaland political scene by picking up two seats Lok Janashakti Party (Ram Vilas) too won two seats. The Janata Dal (United) claimed one seat.
Independents triumphed in four constituencies.
Women create history
A historic feature of the Nagaland 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, repeated its pathetic show this time around.
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.
