The number of MLAs of the People’s Democratic Alliance comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) of Nagaland could increase with the National People’s Party, a constituent of the BJP-led coalition in Manipur, expected to join it. The NPP won two seats.
Earlier in the day, the alliance gained one more seat after the Election Commission reversed the result of the Tenning constituency. The order took the alliance’s tally to 32 in the 60-member House.
An order signed by Election Commission Secretary Arvind Kumar said a tabulation error on Saturday led the returning officer to declare N.R. Zeliang of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) as the winner instead of Namri Nchang of the NDPP.
Mr. Zeliang, who polled 6,850 votes, was wrongly declared winner in place of Mr. Nchang who polled 7,018 votes, the order said, citing Article 324 to cancel the declaration of result in favour of Mr. Zeliang.
The error had occurred after the fourth round of counting with the returning officer entering 824 votes in the tabulation sheet instead of 624.
Mr. Zeliang is the brother of Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang, who won from the Peren constituency.
A delegation of the People’s Democratic Alliance met Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya on Sunday afternoon to stake claim to form the next government.
“We took a list of 32 newly elected members to the Governor,” NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio said. Mr. Rio is likely to be the Chief Minister again, with the government likely to be sworn in by March 7. On Saturday night, the People’s Democratic Alliance gained the support of an Independent and the lone winner from the Janata Dal (U).
