Both the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) are upbeat over increase in their vote share in the recently-concluded by-election to Nagaland parliamentary constituency.
Tolheho Yepthomi of NDPP, a BJP ally, defeated NPF candidate in the by-poll held on May 28. The results were declared on May 31. The NPF candidate was supported by Congress in the by-poll.
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Also read: NDPP wins Nagaland Lok Sabha by-election
The NDPP and the BJP formed the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) with two National People’s Party MLAs, one JD(U) and an Independent to form the Government in the State after the February Assembly election.
In a statement, the NDPP, quoting Nagaland chief electoral officer’s office, said the PDA’s consensus candidate, Yethomi, secured 5,94,205 votes out of a grand total of 10,18,658 votes cast, including NOTA (none of the above) and tendered votes, taking its vote share from 54% in the Assembly poll to 58.33% in the Lok Sabha by-election.
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On the other hand, the NPF said it polled 3,89,912 votes during the Assembly elections in February and its candidate Jamir managed to garner 4,20,459 votes in the just concluded Lok Sabha by-poll.
The increase of 30,547 votes has proven that the people of Nagaland “loves and support” the NPF, party spokesperson Achumbemo Kikon said at a press conference in Kohima on Saturday evening.
The NDPP has also expressed its utmost appreciation and gratitude to the people of Nagaland and the electorate for reposing their faith in the NDPP-led PDA Government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio by electing the PDA consensus candidate with a massive mandate in the just-concluded Lok Sabha by-election.
“The NDPP-BJP alliance has gained significant strides within just two months of being elected to power by gaining more than the sitting representatives of the Opposition in seven Assembly constituencies,” the NDPP statement said adding, in the last Assembly elections, the NDPP-BJP combine garnered a combined total of 4,08,056 votes (40.51 pc) while the NPF which contested in 58 seats and could garner only 3,89,687 votes (38.69 pc).
The NDPP said the Opposition parties would do well not to undermine the wisdom and mandate of the people which has been given to the PDA.
“Although we lost, we gracefully accept the outcome. We are down but we are not out yet,” NPF spokesperson Kikon asserted.