A multi-cornered electoral contest is anticipated in the upcoming by-election on April 9 for the Koridang Assembly constituency in Nagaland’s Mokokchung district. Major political parties have already declared their candidates for this crucial election. The opposition Congress recently announced T. Chalukumba AO as its nominee for the reserved Scheduled Tribes seat, following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the National People’s Party (NPP).
The by-election in Koridang was triggered by the passing of Imkong L. Imchen, a five-time elected member from the constituency who represented various parties over the years. The BJP has named Daochier I. Imchen, son of the late MLA Imkong L. Imchen, as its candidate for this significant electoral battle. The NPP, under the leadership of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has put forward I. Abenjang as its contender for the by-election.
Several smaller local parties are also expected to join the race, heightening the competition for the Koridang Assembly seat. In the previous 2023 elections, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate lost to the BJP’s Imkong L. Imchen by a narrow margin of 276 votes. The election authorities in Nagaland have set the timeline for nominations, with the results scheduled to be announced on May 4. Over 22,000 voters, including a significant number of women, are eligible to cast their votes in this electoral battle.
