Mokokchung, Mar. 3 (EMN): The electoral battle was big in Mokokchung district, the victory bigger but the defeats, the biggest—only because they all were decided by some of the tiniest margins ever recorded by a district during Nagaland’s recent assembly polls.
The Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) won four seats, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have secured two each while the National People’s Party (NPP) and an independent has one each in Mokokchung. The aggregate is out of 10 assembly seats in the district.
In most of the assembly seats in Mokokchung, the race was neck-to-neck; winning candidates beat rival candidates by mere hundreds of votes. The only candidate who won by a margin of 1000 votes was recorded at 27th Mokokchung town assembly constituency (AC) by Metsubo Jamir (NDPP) brother of former chief secretary of Nagaland Alemtemshi Jamir, also the NDPP’s working president. He defeated C Apok Jamir (NPF), Rongsenshilu (Indian National Congress) and Temsuwati (independent) by 1004 votes.
Heavyweight Nuklutoshi (NPF) also was defeated by a young NPP candidate Imnatiba by 793 votes.
Another heavy weight Imkong L Imchen (NPF) at 28 Koridang AC ran neck-to-neck with his second-time rival T Chalukumba Ao (NPP) and just barely managed to hold on to his seat for the third time—by mere 127 votes.
At 23rd Impur AC, the NDPP’s TN Manen lost for the third time, and this time to Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Imtiwapang Aier (NPF). He lost by a measly 62-vote margin. Imtikumzuk (NDPP) also barely managed to defend the 26th Aonglenden AC seat against his second-time rival Toshipokba (NPF)—by mere 88 votes.
Further, in the won-by-fewer-than-100 votes category, NPF candidate Dr Benjongliba Aier who was projected to without doubt win, lost to rookie Temjen Imna Along (BJP) by 86 votes at 30th Alongtaki AC.
Dr Longrineken (BJP) also beat his second-time rivals ET Sunep (NPF) and Dr K Chuba (NPP) by 276 votes at 29th Jangpetkong AC.
The NDPP’s Working President Alemtemshi Jamir who was expected to win from two seats lost in both. He lost to former Minister Dr Ngangshi K Ao by 349 votes at 25th Mongya AC and to a fresh independent Tongpang Ozukum by 950 votes at 24th Angetyongpang AC.
At 21st Tuli AC which was being considered the toughest and most volatile constituency in the district, MLA Amenba Yaden beat his rivals by 886 votes.
Out of the 84 percent turnout in Mokokchung district, 401 voters went for the NOTA (none of the above) vote. The highest number of NOTA votes was 64, registered at 21st Tuli AC.
