Nagaland Koridang bypoll: BJP's Daochier Imchen leads by 3,100 votes
Synopsis
BJP's Daochier Imchen — son of the late MLA Imkong L. Imchen whose death triggered this bypoll — is leading the Koridang Assembly constituency contest by around 3,100 votes after two rounds of counting. A high 82.21% turnout and the PDA coalition's backing make him the frontrunner, with final results expected Monday afternoon.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Daochier I.
Imchen leads the Koridang bypoll by approximately 3,100 votes after the second round of counting on 4 May 2025 .
Imchen secured 7,317 votes ; nearest rival Major Toshikaba (Retd) stands at 4,194 votes .
The bypoll was held on 9 April 2025 , recording a voter turnout of 82.21% across 30 polling stations .
The election was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L.
Imchen on 11 November 2024 in Guwahati, aged 75 .
Daochier Imchen was the consensus candidate of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) ; full results expected by Monday afternoon.
BJP candidate Daochier I. Imchen has taken an early lead in the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll in Nagaland, pulling ahead by approximately 3,100 votes over his nearest rival, Independent candidate Major Toshikaba (Retd), as counting of votes continued on Monday, 4 May 2025. The by-election was held on 9 April 2025, recording a high voter turnout of 82.21% across 30 polling stations.
Early Counting Trends
After the second round of counting, Imchen had secured 7,317 votes, while Independent candidates Major Toshikaba (Retd) and Imtiwapang Kichu trailed with 4,194 and 3,633 votes, respectively. A total of six candidates are contesting the bypoll, with complete results expected to be declared by the afternoon.
Who Is Daochier Imchen
Daochier I. Imchen is the son of the late BJP legislator Imkong L. Imchen, whose passing on 11 November 2024 at a private hospital in Guwahati — at the age of 75 — necessitated this bypoll. Daochier was fielded as the consensus candidate of the multi-party People's Democratic Alliance (PDA), of which the BJP is a constituent partner and the ruling coalition in Nagaland.
Contest and Key Candidates
Other candidates in the fray include I. Abenjang of the National People's Party (NPP) and T. Chalukumba Ao of the Indian National Congress (Congress). Three Independent candidates — Imchatoba Imchen, Imtiwapang Kichu, and Major Toshikaba (Retd) — have made the contest competitive, with Toshikaba emerging as the principal challenger in early trends.
Counting Process and Security
Counting commenced at 8 am on Monday at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioner's office, under strict Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines. Postal ballots were counted first, followed by votes stored in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), with three rounds of counting scheduled in total. A multi-layered security arrangement — comprising Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), state security personnel, CCTV surveillance, and strict access controls — has been deployed at the counting venue, officials said.
What Happens Next
If the early lead holds, the BJP and its PDA allies would retain the Koridang seat, reinforcing the ruling coalition's grip on the Nagaland Assembly. The result, expected later on Monday, will also be watched as a gauge of the PDA's ground-level support in the Mokokchung district ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Effectively converting a democratic contest into a dynastic transfer with multi-party backing. The 82.21% turnout is notably high for a bypoll, suggesting strong local mobilisation, but the absence of a credible mainstream party challenger beyond Independents raises questions about opposition cohesion in Nagaland. For the BJP, retaining this seat matters symbolically: it signals that even mid-term vacancies in its northeastern coalition remain secure, reinforcing the PDA's near-uncontested dominance in the state.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll?
The Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll is a by-election held in Nagaland on 9 April 2025 to fill the seat vacated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November 2024. Six candidates are contesting, with counting underway on 4 May 2025.
Who is Daochier I. Imchen?
Daochier I. Imchen is the BJP candidate and son of the late legislator Imkong L. Imchen. He was fielded as the consensus candidate of the ruling People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) coalition in Nagaland.
Why was the Koridang bypoll held?
The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen, who passed away on 11 November 2024 at a private hospital in Guwahati after a brief illness at the age of 75.
What was the voter turnout in the Koridang bypoll?
The Koridang bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 82.21% on 9 April 2025, with electors casting their votes across 30 polling stations — a notably high figure for a by-election.
When will the final results of the Koridang bypoll be declared?
The complete results for the Koridang Assembly constituency bypoll are expected to be declared by the afternoon of Monday, 4 May 2025, after three rounds of counting at the Mokokchung District Deputy Commissioner's office.
