Nagaland bye-election result: NDPP candidate Yhokha wins 14-Southern Angami-I in closely fought contest

Our Correspondent
Dimapur, Nov. 10 (EMN): Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate Medo Yhokha won the 14-Southern Angami-I assembly constituency bye-election by a margin of 598 votes on Tuesday in a closely fought contest with Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo.

The polling for the bye-election to the 14-Southern Angami-I and 60-Pungro-Kiphire assembly constituencies was held on November 3 (re-poll at two polling station in Kiphire on November 7) and the counting of vote started in the morning of November 10.

Yhokha secured 4773 votes to win the 14-Southern Angami-I assembly seat, while his nearest rival Seyievilie Peter Zashumo (Independent) got 4175 votes and Kikovi Kirha of Naga People’s Front (NPF) got  2575 votes.

A total of 88 people pressed the NOTA (None of the Above) button in the constituency.

Out of 131 postal ballots received, NDPP garnered 52 votes, Independent candidate 69 and NPF 10, while 38 votes got rejected.

Speaking to media persons after the win, Yhokha admitted that it was a stiff fight. He said that he will be working with his “utmost best” and “fulfill” his commitment given at the grassroots level.

He said that he will prove himself that he is “worthy and viable”. There is a “huge responsibility” ahead, Yhokha added.