All eyes are on the forthcoming by-election to the 28 Koridang assembly constituency in Mokokchung district where six candidates will be vying for the seat which fell vacant after the demise of the then sitting MLA late Imkong L. Imchen of the BJP.
As per schedule, polling will take place on April 9 and counting on May 4. As per latest data the total number of electorate under Koridang assembly constituency for which by-election is to be held on April 9 is 22,390 showing an increase of 798 voters up from 21,592 voters recorded for the 2023 assembly election.
The six candidates contesting the by-election are: Daochier I Imchen (BJP and son of late Imkong L. Imchen); T. Chalukumba Ao (INC); I. Abenjang (NPP); Independents– (1) Imtiwapang Kichu (2) Maj. Toshikaba (Retd.) and (3) Imchatoba Imchen.
Three of the six candidates hail from Chungtia: T. Chalukumba Ao, Maj (Retd.) Toshikaba and Imtiwapang Kichu while two are from Mangmetong village: Daochier I. Imchen and Imchatoba Imchen. The lone candidate from Longkhum is I. Abenjang.
Of all six candidates, T. Chalukumba Ao had contested thrice and lost- 2013(Ind), 2018 (NPP) and 2013 (JD-U). Maj (Retd) Toshikaba had contested and narrowly lost the 2023 as NPF candidate. The remaining four are first timers.
Late Imkong had first won the seat In 2003 as independent candidate after quitting the Congress and defeating the sitting Congress MLA by a margin of 364 votes.
Imchen retained the seat in 2008, 2013 and 2018 as NPF candidate. In 2018 he narrowly defeated his nearest rival candidate NPP candidate T. Chalumumba by 128 votes.
Imkong along with 21 out of 25 NPF legislators led by T.R. Zeliang, joined the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on April 29, 2022.
However, he contested the 2023 election on a BJP ticket and retained the seat for a record fifth consecutive term against his nearest NPF candidate Maj (Retd) Toshikaba by 410 votes.
2 veterans and 4 first timers for Koridang by-election
Staff Reporter
