BJP retains Koridang seat: Daochier Imchen wins by 3,123 votes
Synopsis
BJP's Daochier I. Imchen — son of the late MLA whose death triggered the bypoll — has won the Koridang seat with 7,317 votes, delivering the PDA coalition a comfortable 3,123-vote margin. The Congress polled just 144 votes, underlining its near-total erasure from Nagaland's political map.
Key Takeaways
Imchen (BJP) won the Koridang Assembly bypoll on 4 May 2025 by a margin of 3,123 votes .
Imchen secured 7,317 votes ; Independent candidate Major Toshikaba (Retd) polled 4,194 votes .
The Congress candidate finished with just 144 votes , highlighting the party's weak presence in Nagaland.
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting MLA Imkong L.
Imchen on 11 November 2025 , aged 75 .
Voter turnout stood at 82.21% across 30 polling stations ; pre-poll violence on 5–6 April claimed one life .
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated Imchen, calling the mandate a reflection of public confidence in the PDA's vision.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a constituent of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) in Nagaland, retained the Koridang Assembly seat on Monday, 4 May, after BJP candidate Daochier I. Imchen defeated Independent candidate Major Toshikaba (Retd) by a margin of 3,123 votes. The by-election was held on 9 April, with results declared following three rounds of counting at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioner's office.
Election Results at a Glance
Daochier I. Imchen secured 7,317 votes against Major Toshikaba (Retd)'s 4,194 votes, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). A total of six candidates contested the bypoll. The Congress candidate, T. Chalukumba Ao, finished a distant third with just 144 votes, while Independent candidate Imchatoba Imchen was among the remaining contenders. At 35 years of age, Daochier I. Imchen enters the Nagaland state Assembly for the first time.
The Imchen Legacy and PDA Consensus
Daochier I. Imchen is the son of the late Imkong L. Imchen, the sitting BJP MLA who passed away on 11 November 2025 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness at the age of 75. His death necessitated the bypoll for the 28 Koridang Assembly constituency. The younger Imchen was fielded as the consensus candidate of the multi-party PDA alliance, reinforcing the coalition's unified front ahead of the vote.
Chief Minister Rio's Congratulatory Message
Nagaland Chief Minister and PDA supremo Neiphiu Rio congratulated the winning candidate in a post on his X handle. Rio wrote:
Point of View
Which claimed one life, deserves scrutiny beyond the election result itself — it signals that even a bypoll in a small constituency can ignite dangerous tensions, raising questions about the adequacy of preventive security deployments.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Koridang Assembly bypoll in Nagaland?
BJP candidate Daochier I. Imchen won the Koridang Assembly bypoll, defeating Independent candidate Major Toshikaba (Retd) by 3,123 votes. Imchen secured 7,317 votes against Toshikaba's 4,194 votes.
Why was the Koridang bypoll held?
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen, who passed away on 11 November 2025 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness. He was 75 years old.
What was the voter turnout in the Koridang bypoll?
The Koridang bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 82.21% on 9 April 2025, with voters casting ballots across 30 polling stations in the constituency.
What happened during the pre-poll violence before the Koridang bypoll?
Violence reported on 5 and 6 April 2025 resulted in one fatality, several injuries, and damage to vehicles. A multi-tier security arrangement was subsequently deployed around the counting centre to prevent further incidents.
How did the Congress perform in the Koridang bypoll?
The Congress candidate, T. Chalukumba Ao, polled just 144 votes — a distant third — underscoring the party's marginal presence in Nagaland's current political landscape.
