PDA consensus candidate defeats Congress rival by landslide margin of 6148 votes
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Sharingain Longkumer receives the ‘Certificate of Election’ from Khiuzan Kaurinta, the Assistant Returning Officer in Mokokchung on Thursday. (EM Images)[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, May 23 (EMN): The consensus candidate of People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Sharingain Longkumer won the by-election to 26-Aonglenden assembly constituency by a landslide margin of 6148 votes. He defeated Congress candidate Alem Jongshi.
The by-election in April saw a straight fight between Sharingain Longkumer and Alem Jongshi (Longkumer) after two other candidates withdrew their nominations.
According to information given by the Returning Officer (RO) Mokokchung on Thursday, out of the total 11,014 valid votes counted from 16 polling stations, the Congress candidate could manage to bag only 2,362; while the NDPP candidate amassed an overwhelming 8607 votes.
As per the figures, the Congress candidate put up a tough fight in urban polling stations even as the NDPP candidate managed to win every urban polling station by narrow margins.
But in rural polling stations, it was a complete washout for the Congress, resulting in the landslide victory for Sharingain. Congress barely managed to garner 100 votes from the rural polling stations combined.
Will focus on empowering youth
Interacting with media persons, Sharingain Longkumer vowed to work for the younger generation. He said that “young voters between the age of 18-35 years have given their voice for a change and pray that I would do justice to the cause.”
He revealed that out of 12, 269 voters in Aonglenden 5637 voters are between the age of 18-35 years; and they are the constituency’s human resource for the next 25 years.
“I want to focus on those numbers, even if 50% of those numbers are skilled and trained, at the same time promote them, than our future is bright,” he said.
When queried what will be his first priority as an elected MLA, Sharingain replied he want to coordinate with the district administration and ascertain which areas they are lacking at; take an assessment and prioritise ‘wants and needs’ accordingly.
“Before assessing we cannot plan anything…sustainable development, skill development, youth and women empowerment will be assessed first,” he shared.
Sharingain said he would like Aonglenden to be the nerve centre of change and requested the voters to cooperate. “I pray and hope that if we are able to implement certain changes no matter how small, collectively over a period of time it will make a difference.”
He also shared that he wants to promote sports tourism where players from outside the state could participate as well as mould the skills of the local talents. He added that during ‘crucial hours God blessed him’, resulting in the victory.
He also felt that the by-election result shows that young voters were listening to what he said during his campaign and what he aspires for them.
Right after the result was declared a thanksgiving programme was held at Babu Tzubu Amphitheatre in Ungma village which was attended by party worker and well-wishers.
