Daochier I Imchen, son of late Imkong L Imchen, receives party ticket from Nagaland BJP President Benjamin Yepthomi and others on March 18. (Photo Courtesy: BJP Nagaland)
BJP fields Daochier I Imchen; Congress to decide candidate by Saturday
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 19
The upcoming bye-election to the 28 Koridang (ST) Assembly Constituency in Nagaland, scheduled for April 9, is shaping up to be a likely two-way contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress.
The BJP has announced Daochier I Imchen, the youngest son of the late Imkong L Imchen, as its candidate for the bye-poll. The decision was approved by the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) during a meeting held in New Delhi on March 18.
Late Imchen, a five-time legislator and former Minister, had last won the seat on a BJP ticket in 2023. The Koridang seat fell vacant following his demise on November 11, 2025, necessitating the bye-election. He was serving as Advisor for Information & Public Relations and Soil & Water Conservation at the time.
Meanwhile, the party formally handed over the ticket to 35-year-old Daochier at a programme attended by State BJP leaders, representatives of People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) partners, including NPF district officials, along with party workers and well-wishers.
In a press release, the BJP stated that Daochier’s selection is aimed at strengthening the party’s outreach among tribal voters in the North-East.
Following the announcement, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party and Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton congratulated Daochier on his nomination, expressing confidence in his leadership and urging voters to support the BJP’s vision of development, stability and opportunity.
Meanwhile, the Congress is expected to finalise its candidate shortly. Party sources indicated that several aspirants have expressed interest, with a final decision likely by March 21.
“There are applicants/potential candidates. Final decision by Saturday,” a senior Congress leader told The Morung Express.
The Congress currently has no representation in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, while the BJP has 11 members.
If finalised, the upcoming bye-election to the 28 Koridang AC could mirror the 18th Lok Sabha contest in the State, which saw a direct contest between the PDA consensus candidate and the Congress, with the latter emerging victorious.
No other parties or aspirants have publicly announced their candidature so far.
The BJP CEC has also approved candidates for bye-elections in other states scheduled next month. In Goa, Ritesh Ravi Naik will contest from the 21-Ponda constituency. In Karnataka, Veerabhadrayya Charantimath has been fielded from 24-Bagalkot, while Srinivas T Dasakariyappa will contest from 107-Davanagere South. In Tripura, Jahar Chakraborti has been nominated from the 56-Dharmanagar constituency.
