Nagaland by-poll: Congress candidate forfeits deposit

Kohima: Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Khaseo Anar, who was in the fray for the by-polls to 60 Pungro-Kiphire Scheduled Tribe (ST) assembly constituency (AC), lost his deposit after he failed to secure one-sixth of the total number of valid votes, confirmed Nagaland chief electoral officer (CEO), Abhijit Sinha, on Tuesday.

As per section 34 of the Representation of People’s (RP) Act, in the case of an election from an Assembly, a candidate who is a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe has to deposit Rs 5,000 while filing nominations.

The deposit of a candidate is forfeited if he/she fails to secure one-sixth of the total valid votes cast in a constituency and the forfeited deposits go to the national treasury.

Anar secured 347 votes–343 electronic voting machine (EVM) votes and four postal votes–out of the total valid votes in the by-poll, the result for which was announced on Tuesday evening. As per the figures from Nagaland CEO, 60 Pungro-Kiphire AC recorded 27,366 total valid votes out of 27,471 total votes polled.

Also Read: Nagaland by-poll result: Medo Yhokha, Yangseo Sangtam win Assembly seat

Out of five candidates who contested for the assembly seat to 60 Pungro Kiphire, independent candidate T Yangseo Sangtam won by 8,747 votes. Ruling government People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) consensus candidate and BJP candidate Lirimong Sangtam secured 5,664 votes.

Independent candidate Kiusumew Yimchunger secured 7,220 votes and Independent candidate Shellumthong Yimchunger secured 5,388 votes. None of the above (NOTA) accounted for 94 votes and 11 postal votes were rejected.

As for the 14 Southern Angami-I AC, PDA’s consensus candidate and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate Medo Yhokha won the assembly seat as he secured 4,773 votes.

Independent candidate Seyievilie Peter Zashumo secured 4,175 votes and Nagaland’s opposition party– Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate Kikovi Kirha secured 2,575 votes. NOTA accounted for 88 votes and 38 postal votes were rejected. The constituency recorded 11,523 total valid votes out of 11,649 total votes polled.