Nagaland ULB Polls: Nine candidates win without contest ahead of June 26 voting

KOHIMA/WOKHA — At least nine candidates have won in six municipal and town council wards in Nagaland without any contest ahead of the civic polls on June 26.

The elections to three municipal councils (Dimapur Kohima, and Mokokchung), and 36 town councils are being held for the first time with 33% of the seats reserved for women, after a delay of 20 years.

Among the victorious candidates are Visheli Zhimo and Kakheka Zhimomi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who won Ward No. 1 and Ward No. 9 under the Niuland Town Council, and Kuhoi Zhimo of Ward No 5, Dimapur Municipal Council.

Taking to X on June 12, a day before the nominations were scrutinised, state BJP President, Benjamin Yepthomi congratulated the trio, describing their victory as an “exemplary feat” that is indicative of the people’s trust upon their leadership capabilities.

“We are confident that more of our party candidates will emerge victorious with the people’s mandate and lead the people towards #ViksitBharat right from the grassroots level,” the party president wrote.

The BJP has fielded 62 candidates for the civil polls.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) issued a notification on Thursday, declaring 22 ‘official party candidates’ for three town councils of Tening, Atoizu and Wokha towns.

As per data provided by the State Election Commission on June 11– the last day of nominations, the NCP had filed 30 nominations.

Out of the 22 candidates, two from Tening — Mairisibo Rengmunta of Ward 8 and Rambin of Ward 7– were elected unopposed.

For Atoizu Town Council, Evuka Z of Ward 8 and Hekhevi of Ward 9 won their seats unopposed while Lily T Humtsoe won Ward 4 of Wokha Town Council unopposed.

As per an update from the state DIPR, a woman candidate from the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) won a seat unopposed in the Medziphema Town Council (MTC).

Out of the nine seats in the council, Seyievino Vitsu from Ward-7 was elected unopposed, the update stated, adding that the winning certificate will be issued on the last date of withdrawal on June 18.

13 from Longleng withdraw nominations

Meanwhile, the SEC informed that 13 candidates for the Longleng Town Council had withdrewn their nominations on Thursday.

This brings down the total number of candidates contesting in the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) elections across Nagaland to 656 from 669.