Congress and NPF going neck and neck in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 8 (UNI) The Congress and the NPF were neck and neck in the fight for the 60-member Nagaland assembly with the two parties winning 21 and 20 seats respectively in the results declared so far.

The state, under President's rule since January, is likely to get a coalition government with none of the parties looking to secure a comfortable lead.

Of the 50 seats for which results were available, the Congress bagged 21 seats and was leading in one seat while the Nagaland People's Front got 20 seats and was leading in four seats.

The BJP, however, failed to make any mark with the saffron party managing only two seats so far, running behind even the Independents who got five seats. The BJP was leading in two seats while the Independents were ahead on five seats.

The Nationalist Congress Party won two seats and leading in as many constituencies.

C Apok Jamir, the son of former Nagaland Chief Minister and present Goa Governor S C Jamir won from Mokokchung defeating NPF candidate Nokzenketba by over 600 votes.

Rajya Sabha member and NPF candidate T R Zeliang defeated his Congress rival Vatsu Meru by a considerable margin of 3879 votes to win the Peren seat.

Another Congress candidate Joshua was declared elected from Pughoboto constituency while his party colleague Tari won the Tenning seat.

BJP candidate Yanthungo was declared elected from Tuyi constituency.

Independents Kipili Sangtam and Dr Ngangshi K Ao won from the Siyuchong-Sitimi and Monguya constituencies respectively.

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