Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 8
The bye-election to the 28 Koridang (ST) Assembly Constituency in Mokokchung district will be held on April 9 amid heightened security following pre-poll violence that claimed one life and prompted the imposition of a night curfew in parts of the constituency.
A total of 22,266 electors, including 11,253 male and 11,013 female voters, will decide the fate of six candidates when polling begins on April 9, with counting scheduled for May 4.
Six-cornered contest
The candidates in the fray are Daochier I Imchen (BJP), T Chalukumba Ao (INC), I Abenjang (NPP), and three Independents, Imchatoba Imchen, Maj Toshikaba and Imtiwapang Kichu.
The seat fell vacant following the demise of veteran politician and former minister Imkong L Imchen on November 11, 2024. A five-time MLA, he had first won the seat in 2003 as an Independent and last retained it in 2023 on a BJP ticket. He was serving as Advisor for Information & Public Relations and Soil & Water Conservation at the time of his death.
Pre-poll violence
The run-up to the election was marred by separate incidents of violence in Longkhum and Mangmetong villages.
The clash in Longkhum village turned fatal when Imrongsungba Imchen, 38, a resident of Artang Ward, Mokokchung and a BJP supporter, succumbed to head injuries sustained during a clash between rival political supporters on the night of April 5. He was referred to a facility outside Mokokchung after being admitted to the IMDH, but died en route on April 6. Police arrested 16 individuals in connection with the incident, 11 from the Independent camp and five from the BJP, including one woman.
In a separate incident in Mangmetong village on April 6, at least 12 vehicles belonging to supporters of an Independent candidate were damaged, along with two to three houses, and two persons were assaulted. Police named 67 individuals, including members of the Mangmetong Village Council, in an FIR. During search operations, police recovered two 12-bore firearms, ammunition, two cartridges and two crude bombs.
Curfew imposed
In view of the violence, District Magistrate Ajit Kumar Verma IAS imposed a night curfew from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM in Longkhum Village, Mangmetong Village and the Alichen area, with immediate effect until further orders, citing the need to maintain public peace ahead of the bye-election.
Poll preparedness
Of the 30 polling stations in the constituency, 17 have been identified as critical and 13 as vulnerable, with security deployment carried out accordingly, according to the District Election Officer.
Campaigning concluded at 4:00 PM on April 7, triggering the mandatory 48-hour silence period. The district administration directed all non-local political workers to leave the area immediately and reiterated its commitment to ensuring a “free, fair and peaceful poll.”
