Dr Maongsangba
Notwithstanding the clean election campaign launched by NBCC in the run up to the 12th general elections and the EC’s strict enforcement of model code of conduct and its effort to conduct free and fair elections, it may not impact the general electorates considering that the contestants have pumped in unprecedented money in the electorate market as never before; and the cash-starved electorate pocketing and amassing them with impunity. Despite the best effort of the all stakeholders, this election could turn out to be one of the most expensive elections of all time. An indicator of what is in store for the next five years. In this vitiated political atmosphere as many as 29 candidates will vie for 10 seats in Mokokchung district, as against 34 candidates in 2008. Any election bereft of one man one vote, and interference by the Village Council or armed gang in the electoral process to vote for a particular candidate will only perpetuate the old order. The first step towards a clean election is to restore conscience vote to every eligible voters-men, women, youth to guarantee electoral politics significant, meaningful and a secured future.
In Mokokchung district, three sitting MLAs, Sakusangba, Sentichuba and Nungsangyapang have made an honorable exit from electoral fray, and as many as 15 new contestants from diverse background have plunge into politics. The most prominent figure in electoral politics in the district, S.C. Jamir, Sentichuba and Tiameren will be conspicuously missed by their electorates this time round. Technocrats, Doctors, retired IAS officers, bureaucrats, young scholars, entrepreneurs and activists have thrown their hats into the ring to slug it out in the rough and tumble of politics. Out of ten constituencies, four constituencies will witness straight contest, four-cornered contest in three constituency and triangular contest in three assembly constituencies.
The 21 Tuli A/C has the second highest no of voters, with a total of about 17628 eligible voters. In 2008 assembly election, L. Temjen Jamir (NPF) piped T. Talinungsang (Ind) by a narrow margin of 180 votes securing only 28.45% of the total valid votes polled. Now the sitting MLA, L. Temjen Jamir from wameken village is locked in a four-cornered contest. One of his opponents is Amen Yaden, a retired IFoS officer from Merangkong village. Amen Yaden, (IND) is expected to give the sitting MLA a run for its money. The congress has fielded a social activist from Asangma village with a potential to upset the apple cart of both the candidates. The fourth candidate is Imsu Yaden from Anaki village. The Constituency comprised of Merangkong, Kangtsung, wameken, Asangma Anaki, Yimsen Anaki“C” Molungyimsen and Molungyimsen Luyong mepu. Besides these villages, Tuli, Tzudikong and other minor area in Tuli Town will determine the fate of the four candidates.
The 22 Arkakong A/C, with an electorate of about 16547 is a prestigious constituency in Mokokchung district. Late RC Chiten Jamir, a congress ideologue represented this constituency for five terms and retired from active politics after 1989 election. The sitting MLA Nuklotoshi (NPF) from Chuchuyimlang village is pitted against his congress rival, Tekatiba Masa, Ex-MLA, a successful practicing lawyer from Changtongya village. Chuchuyimlang and Changtongya is the largest village with the highest no of vote share in the constituency and reportedly the voters seems to have polarized along that line. It is likely that the remaining villages comprising of Yaongyimsen, Unger, Akhoya and Kelingmen others will play a key role in deciding the fate of the two candidates. Nuklutoshi (NPF) defeated Tekatiba Masa in the last election by a margin of 580 votes securing 45.40% of the total valid votes polled. The total electorate in 21 Arkakong A/C is about 16547 as against 23040 in 2008 elections.
A very prestigious constituency in Mokokchung District that is up for straight contest is 23 Impur A/C. The Impur constituency was represented by P. Shilu Ao, the first chief minister of Nagaland in the 1960s. The sitting MLA Nungsangyapang Aier has made way for a new entrant to politics, Dr. Imtiwapang Aier, a PhD scholar in Geology from Sungratsu village. Nungsangyapang a keen footballer and who represented Nagaland football team represented the constituency for two consecutive times from 2003-2013. In the last election, he defeated T.N. Manen (NPF) retired additional chief secretary by a comfortable margin of 4189 in a triangular contest. In 2008, Nungsangyapang went on to create a record in Mokokchung district by getting the highest percentage of valid votes polled of 61.42%. This time round, the congress nominee, Dr. Imtiwapang will cross swords with T.N. Manen in a straight fight. The electoral alliance between Mopungchukit and Sungratsu, which propped up Dr. Imtiwapang has compelled the electorates of the two villagers to fall in line, which makes the task little difficult for the ruling party nominee T. N. Manen. The total electorate in Impur constituency is about 9968 as against 23040 in 2008. There are three big villages under this constituency, Mopungchukit, Sungratsu and Longjang. Besides these, Longpha, Chami, Alongchen, Yisemyong, Kobulong and Khanimo will decide the fate of the two candidates.
The 24 Angetyongpang is one constituency that elected Mr Sentichuba for seven times from 1969. Sentichuba is the only MLA from Mokokchung along with Dr Shurhozelie from Kohima to be in the current assembly that belonged to the batch of 1969 of Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Incidentally, both voluntarily decided to quit electoral politics. The Angetyongpang A/C with a total electorate of about 14715 has four candidates. One is a former minister; Jongshilemba (INC) from Longkong village and the two candidates are debutants. Sashimar from Mongsenyimti village, a ruling party nominee was a former NSF activist; Chuba (IND) a former BDO from Chuchuyimlang village is standing as independent. The fourth candidate is Meren Pongener. In the last election, Sentichuba defeated Jongshilemba by a comfortable margin of 1235 votes securing 53.46% of the total valid votes polled. The constituency comprised of Mongsenyimti, Chakpa, Yaongyimti, (Old and New) Phangsang compound, Longkong, Salulemang, Longmisa and Chuchu Compound. Besides these villages, there are three wards, Alempang, Sungkomen and Tongdentsuyong ward that fall under Mokokchung Municipal area. The urban voters will have a decisive say in this semi-urban constituency.
In 25 Mongoya A/C, one time stronghold of late N.I. Jamir, the battle line is drawn for a straight contest between Dr K. Ngangshi (INC) and a young face Merentoshi (NPF). Late N.I. Jamir a loyal congressman represented Mongoya A/C for four consecutive term from 1982-1998. There are three big villages in the constituency viz, Longsa, Mokokchung village, Chuchuyimpang and minor vicinity like Chubayimkum, Moalenden, Meyilong and Tsusapang. Besides these, there are four urban wards in this constituency comprising of Majakong, Penli, Atang and Alongmen wards. It is expected to witness keen contest considering that the incumbent Dr K Ngangshi from Mokokchung Village is the PHE Minister and his young rival Merentoshi from Longsa village is the grandson of late N.I. Jamir and the son of Alemtemshi chief secretary and Banuo Z Jamir additional chief secretary in a straight contest. This time, Dr Ngangshi K. was compelled to contest on congress ticket as the ruling party ticket was allotted to the young debutant. In the last elections, Dr Ngangshi K. defeated his congress rival Supongmeren (INC) of Longsa village by a comfortable margin of 3034 securing 53.14% of the valid votes polled. The total electorate in Mongoya is about 14679 as against 16437 in 2008.
The 26 Aonglenden has been a citadel of congress for nearly three and half decades. From 1974, the seat was held by SC Jamir (INC) and late Nungshizenba Longkumer (INC). Late Nungshizenba was credited with a record of winning all electoral battle five-time in a row from 1987-2008. However his death eclipsed the INC in his stronghold. In the bye-election held in 2011, SC Jamir bite the dust, thus, culminating the career of the most illustrious politician and a veteran war horse. The seat was snatched by NPF nominee Toshipokba. The NPF has re-nominated Toshipokba Longkumer and will now have to slug it out with his back to the wall to retain his “giant killer.” Status. He will lock horns with his old rival Imtikumzuk Jamir (INC), once a close aide of SC Jamir, Imtikumzuk Jamir lost the last elections in 2008 to Nungshizenba Longkumer by a margin of 1539 votes securing 47. 01% of the total valid votes polled. The present total electorate in Aonglenden assembly constituency is about 11876 as against a total of 12262 in 2008.
The 27 Mokokchung Town A/C is the smallest constituency in Nagaland in terms of area and electorates. It has only four municipal wards with 5772 eligible voters. The total electorate in this constituency was 6093 in 2008 poll. Incidentally, this constituency was represented by both S.C. Jamir and late Nungshizenba. The most interesting battle of ballots in this prestigious constituency is that the sitting MLA Apok Jamir (INC) son of S.C. Jamir will clash with Rosemtong Longkumer (NPF) son of late Nungshizenba Longkumer. The third candidate in the fray is a woman candidate, Dr Yangerla, retired Principal Director of Health & Family Welfare. She is the only woman candidate in the district and deserved to be appreciated for mustering the courage to storm the male bastion in a male dominated political structure. In the last assembly election, C. Apok Jamir defeated Aolepden (IND) by a margin of 626 votes in a triangular contest securing 42.94% of the total valid votes polled.
28 Koridang A/C with a total electorate of 18,703 is the largest constituency in terms of voters in Mokokchung district. In 2008, the total no of electors was 22647. The Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen in his bid to retain the seat for the third time is locked in a triangular fight. His main opponent, a debutant, from Chungtia village, Chalukumba took premature retirement from govt. service and plunge into politics to take on the Home minister as Independent candidate. The INC has re-nominated, S. Moa Imchen from Home Minister’s native village. The congress nominee may not make much of an impact considering that he secured only 415 in the last securing a little over 2% of total valid votes polled. And this time round, his presence in the fray seems to be symbolic one. However, the threat to unseat the home Minister comes from Independent candidate. The Home Minister seems equally geared to thwart to dethrone him with resources at his command coupled with his ability of turning the table on his opponents. In 2008 election, Imkong L. Imchen (NPF) defeated T. Chenung, (IND) a formidable rival from Longkum village by a comfortable margin of 1197 securing a little more than 52% of the total valid votes polled in a triangular contest.
The 29 Jangpetkong A/C a congress bastion is locked in a four cornered contest. The sitting congress MLA I. Imkong besides his old rival Dr Longri, two retired IAS officers, Dr Aochuba, a retired Director of Horticulture and E.T. Sunup, retired Additional Chief Secretary have thrown their hat into the ring making one of the fieriest electoral battle in the constituency. The total voter in the constituency is about 10492. In the last assembly election, I. Imkong trounced his rival Dr Longri (NPF) by a convincing margin of 2311 securing 58.80/ of the total votes polled. The total electorate is about 10492 as against 15241 in 2008. Changki, warumong, Khar, Debuia, Mongchen, Chungliyimsen, Mangkolemba, Alongkima, Longnak and Warumong Compound constitute the Jangpetkong constituency.
The 30 Alongtaki A/C has a total electorate of 13700 with about thirty villages. The constituency has attracted attention of late for more reason than one. The sitting MLA Sakusangba (NPF) has retired from the contest. Two strong and equally resourceful candidates have joined the fray. Moatoshi, additional Director of Land Resources and Dr Benjongliba, Director Horticulture have quit government job to vie for the seat. The ruling NPF has fielded Dr Benjongliba and Moatoshi will fight as Independent candidate. This constituency adjoining Assam consists of two ranges- Tsurangkong and Japukong. The Japukong Senso Mungdang backs Dr Benjongliba as its consensus candidate regardless of party affiliation. However the situation on the ground is little different than what is in the paper. A source emanating from the constituency tells a different account as influential personalities from Japukong range including the sitting member Er. Sakusangba is backing Moatoshi. Moatoshi from Longpa village (Independent) under Tsurangkong range is all set to give a tough fight to the ruling party nominee. The congress nominee is Imlitemsu Longkumer from Nokpu village that is also from Japukong range. In the last assembly election Er Sakusangba (NPF) defeated Tiameren Aier by a margin of 3884 votes in a multi-cornered contest and secured 59.75% of the total valid votes polled.
