NPF emerges as single largest party in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 08 (UNI) The Nagaland People's Front (NPF) today emerged as the single largest party, garnering 25 seats out of the total 57 results declared so far, in the 60-member House.

The arch rival of the NPF, the Congress, which was hopeful of getting absolute majority, was lagging behind the NPF with 22 seats, whereas the NPF's alliance partners BJP and NCP got two seats each.

With these four seats, the DAN had so far received 29 seats.

The six Independent candidates were now the deciding factors.

Counting of the remaining three seats would be taken up tomorrow as 47 polling stations under these three constituencies went to repoll yesterday.

The RJD, JD(U), JD(S) and LJP had drawn blank.

There were three JD(U) members in the last Assembly.

All the three JD(U) members had resigned from the party and two of them were given NPF tickets this time.

Four women candidates in the fray had also failed to make it to the Assembly.

Among the four female candidates, one belonged to the JD(U), one to the NCP, one to the BJP and one Independent.

In the last Assembly election, the Congress won 22 seats and later seven of them defected the party.

In the byelection, the Congress retained two seats taking its strength to 17 from 15.

The state had been under the President's rule since January three.

Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, Governor S S Sidhu today said he was yet to decide whether to invite the Congress or NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) to form the new government in the state.

The Congress emerged as the single largest party, bagging 25 out of the 59 seats.

Election to one seat was countermanded following the death of a candidate.

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