1998 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election

Summary

Elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly were held in February 1998 to elect members of the 60 constituencies in Nagaland, India. The Indian National Congress won a majority of the seats[1] and S. C. Jamir was re-appointed as the Chief Minister of Nagaland. The number of constituencies was set as 60 by the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission of India.[2]

1998 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election

← 1993 23 February 1998 2003 →

All 60 seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly
31 seats needed for a majority
Registered260,646
Turnout78.95%
  Majority party
 
Leader S. C. Jamir
Party INC
Leader's seat Aonglenden
Seats before 35
Seats won 53
Seat change Increase18
Popular vote 50.73%

CM before election

President's Rule
INC

Elected CM

S. C. Jamir
INC

Regional parties like the Naga People's Front did not contest these elections, and they were joined by the Bharatiya Janata Party in this action.[3] In 43 of the constituencies, the INC candidate was the sole candidate and hence was declared the winner without a poll. In the other 17 constituencies, the INC candidate had to compete with one or more Independents. The Independents managed to win 7 of these seats.

Background edit

In 1997, the NSCN(I-M) signed a ceasefire agreement with the government.[4] The agreement ensured that while the government would not push for counter-insurgency operations against the NSCN (I-M) cadre and its leadership, the rebels on their part would not target armed forces. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland and the Naga Hoho, (a tribal body), then demanded that upcoming elections should be postponed till the conclusion of the peace talks. Since the Election Commission wasn't amenable to their arguments, they called for a boycott of the polls[1] even issuing threats to the various political parties where necessary.[5]

Result edit

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Indian National Congress103,20650.7353 18
Independents100,22649.2770
Total203,432100.00600
Valid votes203,43298.86
Invalid/blank votes2,3561.14
Total votes205,788100.00
Registered voters/turnout260,64678.95
Source: ECI[6]

Results by constituency edit

  • Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituency[7]
Assembly Constituency Turnout Winner Runner Up Margin
#k Names % Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
1 Dimapur I - I. Vikheshe INC Elected Unopposed
2 Dimapur II - Imtisunget Jamir INC Elected Unopposed
3 Dimapur III 13.68% Atovi Sumi INC 1,955 83.83% T. L. Angami Independent 337 14.45% 1,618
4 Ghaspani I - Dr. V. Kanito INC Elected Unopposed
5 Ghaspani II - Rokonicha INC Elected Unopposed
6 Tening - T. R. Zeliang INC Elected Unopposed
7 Peren - Neiba Ndang INC Elected Unopposed
8 Western Angami 64.07% Asu Keyho Independent 5,562 55.98% N. T. Nakhro INC 4,084 41.10% 1,478
9 Kohima Town 71.39% T. Abao Kire Independent 9,166 49.60% Z. Obed INC 8,706 47.11% 460
10 Northern Angami I - Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu INC Elected Unopposed
11 Northern Angami II - Neiphiu Rio INC Elected Unopposed
12 Tseminyü - Nillo INC Elected Unopposed
13 Pughoboto - Joshua Achumi INC Elected Unopposed
14 Southern Angami I 64.30% Mavil Khieya Independent 3,964 53.33% K. Tase INC 3,288 44.24% 676
15 Southern Angami II - Viswesül Pusa INC Elected Unopposed
16 Pfütsero - Kewekhape Therie INC Elected Unopposed
17 Chizami - Zhovehu Lohe INC Elected Unopposed
18 Chozuba 66.87% Nuzota Swuro INC 6,533 58.50% Yesonu Veyie Independent 4,526 40.53% 2,007
19 Phek - Zachilhu Vadeo INC Elected Unopposed
20 Meluri 76.75% Khuosatho INC 7,001 73.58% Wetetso Independent 2,407 25.30% 4,594
21 Tuli - T. Tali INC Elected Unopposed
22 Arkakong - Imtiyanger INC Elected Unopposed
23 Impur - T. Chuba INC Elected Unopposed
24 Angetyongpang - Tongpang Ozüküm INC Elected Unopposed
25 Mongoya - T. Imtimeren Jamir INC Elected Unopposed
26 Aonglenden - S. C. Jamir INC Elected Unopposed
27 Mokokchung Town - Nungshizenba INC Elected Unopposed
28 Koridang - T. Nokyu Longchar INC Elected Unopposed
29 Jangpetkong - I. Imkong INC Elected Unopposed
30 Alongtaki - Tongpang Nungshi INC Elected Unopposed
31 Akuluto - Kazheto Kinimi INC Elected Unopposed
32 Atoizu - Doshehe Y. Sema INC Elected Unopposed
33 Suruhoto - Kiyezhe Sema INC Elected Unopposed
34 Aghunato - Tokheho Yepthomi INC Elected Unopposed
35 Zünheboto 57.53% Kakheho Independent 5,218 66.83% Ghutoshe Sema INC 2,445 31.31% 2,773
36 Satakha - Kaito INC Elected Unopposed
37 Tyüi - T. C. K. Lotha INC Elected Unopposed
38 Wokha - John Lotha INC Elected Unopposed
39 Sanis - Thomas Ngullie INC Elected Unopposed
40 Bhandari - L. Yanthungo Patton INC Elected Unopposed
41 Tizit 87.99% Tingkup INC 6,000 50.64% Yeangphong Independent 5,753 48.55% 247
42 Wakching - P. Enyei Konyak INC Elected Unopposed
43 Tapi - Bongnao INC Elected Unopposed
44 Phomching - Kongam INC Elected Unopposed
45 Tehok - W. Wongyuh Konyak INC Elected Unopposed
46 Mon Town 96.02% C. John Independent 6,988 50.51% N. Thongwang Konyak INC 6,647 48.04% 341
47 Aboi 92.49% Eyong Konyak INC 5,452 72.58% Howing Independent 1,957 26.05% 3,495
48 Moka - A. Nyamnyei Konyak Independent Elected Unopposed
49 Tamlu 99.78% Dr. O. Kongyan Phom INC 11,832 43.85% B. Phongshak Phom INC 15,120 56.03% -3,288
50 Longleng 98.40% Shami Angh Independent 11,843 44.05% M. Chemlom Phom INC 11,285 41.97% 558
51 Noksen 98.58% H. Chuba Chang INC 4,624 69.17% Nokshang Independent 2,041 30.53% 2,583
52 Longkhim Chare - S. Kyukhangba Sangtam INC Elected Unopposed
53 Tuensang Sadar I 87.08% P. Chuba Independent 7,017 56.35% Changkong Chang INC 5,228 41.99% 1,789
54 Tuensang Sadar II 77.42% Kejong Chang INC 4,479 51.94% K. Imlong Chang Independent 4,104 47.59% 375
55 Tobu - Sheakpong Konyak INC Elected Unopposed
56 Noklak - Sedem Khaming INC Elected Unopposed
57 Thonoknyu 93.83% Shingnyu INC 3,022 29.97% N. L. Aimong Independent 2,451 24.31% 571
58 Shamator–Chessore - K. Yamakam INC Elected Unopposed
59 Seyochung–Sitimi 97.04% S. Sethricho Sangtam INC 7,337 51.66% Kipili Independent 6,809 47.94% 528
60 Pungro–Kiphire - R. L. Akamba INC Elected Unopposed

Government Formation edit

On 5 March, S. C. Jamir was sworn in as the Chief Minister, by the Governor Om Prakash Sharma, for his second successive term.[8] In addition, 11 other members of the Legislative assembly were sworn in as ministers in the cabinet. These included the future Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, who was made the Home minister.[9]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Holding of timely election is a constitutional process: Rijiju on Nagaland polls". The Quint. IANS. 30 January 2018. In 1998, the separatist National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) and Naga Hoho had called for a poll boycott after it signed a ceasefire with the Indian government in 1997. However, the Congress party which was ruling Nagaland then had swept the elections by winning 53 of 60 seats, as other parties heeded the call.
  2. ^ "DPACO (1976) - Archive Delimitation Orders". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  3. ^ Along Longkumer (26 February 2018). "Nagaland's Cycle of Slogans, Elections, and Elusive Solutions". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 September 2021. It will be worth remembering that as early as 1998 (when Nagaland Assembly election was due at that time), Naga civil society had coined the slogan 'Nagas want solution not election'. Except for the Indian National Congress (INC) under veteran Congressman S.C. Jamir, now the Governor of Odisha, the other parties, including the regional outfit NPC/NPF and even the BJP, had lent their support to the appeal. Terming the Congress as 'anti-Naga', these parties, backed by the NSCN (IM), stayed away from taking part in the electoral exercise.
  4. ^ Waterman, Alex (16 September 2020). "Ceasefires and State Order-Making in Naga Northeast India". International Peacekeeping. 28 (3): 496–525. doi:10.1080/13533312.2020.1821365. ISSN 1353-3312. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020 – via White Rose Research Online.
  5. ^ Udayan Namboodiri; Avirook Sen (16 February 1998). "Militants force candidates to back out from contest in Nagaland". India Today. Retrieved 4 September 2021. On the eve of the polls, the "principal secretary" of the Government of People's Republic of Nagaland (GPRN), the underground "government" of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah faction), issued letters which asked candidates of all political parties in Nagaland to sign a proclamation "failing which they will be treated as anti-national".
  6. ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1998 to the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Report on the General Election to the 9th Nagaland Legislative Assembly 1998" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2022.
  8. ^ Kalyan Chaudhari (21 March 1998). "The Assembly round - Nagaland". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  9. ^ Debanish Achom, ed. (17 February 2018). "Ex-Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Teams Up With BJP This Time". NDTV. Retrieved 4 September 2021.