Legislative Assembly elections were held in Nagaland on 27 February 2023 to elect all 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 2 March 2023.

The election marked a historic moment as it saw the first-ever election of two female MLAs to the Nagaland Assembly.

Background The previous assembly elections were held in February 2018. After the election, coalition of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the state government, with Neiphiu Rio becoming Chief Minister. BJP severed ties with its local ally, Naga People's Front (NPF) to form the government despite the latter emerging as the single largest party. The tenure of 13th Nagaland Assembly ended on 12 March 2023.

Defections In April 2022, 21 NPF MLAs joined NDPP along with then leader of the opposition T. R. Zeliang reducing the former's strength to four. In November 2022, BJP Nagaland District Presidents of Kohima, Wokha and Peren joined JD(U) as a major jolt to BJP Nagaland.

Schedule

The election schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India on 18 January 2023. Poll event Schedule Notification date 31 January 2023 Last date for filing nomination 7 February 2023 Scrutiny of nomination 8 February 2023 Last date for withdrawal of nomination 10 February 2023 Date of poll 27 February 2023 Date of Counting of Votes 2 March 2023

Parties and alliances

National Democratic Alliance

BJP and NDPP announced their alliance for the election in July 2022 and the seat sharing formula was declared on 2 February 2023. Both BJP and NDPP announced their candidates on the same day. + Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party Neiphiu Rio 40 Bharatiya Janata Party Yanthungo Patton 20 Total 60

Naga People's Front

Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Naga People's Front Kuzholuzo Nienu 22

Indian National Congress

The Indian National Congress did not win any seat in the previous elections in 2018. On 26 December 2023, INC appointed Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik as the senior observer and along with former Goa Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha and K. Jeyakumar, both Lok Sabha MPs, as observers for the Nagaland polls. In December 2022, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) President Kewekhape Therie invited like-minded parties and leaders to join an alliance to form a secular front. It depended on the strong anti-Hindutva stand in the Christian-majority state as well as the delay in resolving the Indo-Naga conflict. In their bid to regain lost ground, INC had been in conversation with church bodies as well as Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs). Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Indian National Congress Kewekhape Therie 23

Others In a press release issued on 22 January 2023, Janata Dal (United) declared that it will not participate in any pre-poll, seat-sharing alliance with any political party. However, it would be open to post-poll alliance with like-minded parties. JD(U) was one of the first political parties to announce their candidates for the elections on 29 January 2022.

LJP(RV) decided to contest election not with any other party however party has decided not contest against BJP candidates.

Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Richard Humtsoe 16 Nationalist Congress Party Vanthungo Odyuo 12 National People's Party Andrew Ahoto 12 Republican Party of India (Athawale) Mughato Ayemi 8 Janata Dal (United) Senchumo (NSN) Lotha 7 Rashtriya Janata Dal Nikheje Sumi 3 Communist Party of India M. M. Throma Konyak 1 Rising People's Party Joel Naga 1

Candidates For the 60 seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, a total of 184 candidates submitted their nominations. At least 21 constituencies witnessed a three-way contest. Four women candidates were also fielded by various parties.

Based on their affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India, The Morung Express, a leading newspaper in Nagaland, revealed that 104 candidates were crorepati (net assets over ₹10 million). The huge income and asset disparity between the candidates showed that the richest candidate was worth ₹137 crore (Sukhato A. Sema), and the poorest had just ₹5251 (T. Ngampai Konyak). While 16 of the 20 BJP candidates were crorepati, 34 from the NDPP were in the bracket. DistrictConstituencyNEDANPFINCNo.NamePartyCandidatePartyCandidatePartyCandidate Dimapur1 Dimapur IH. Tovihoto AyemiKewekhape Therie2 Dimapur II (ST)Moatoshi LongkumerS. Amento Chishi Chümoukedima3 Dimapur III (ST)Hekani Jakhalu KenseV. Lasuh Chümoukedima and Niuland4 Ghaspani I (ST)Jacob ZhimomiVikato S. AyeAkavi N. Zhimomi Chümoukedima5 Ghaspani II (ST)Zhaleo Rio Peren6 Tening (ST)Tarie ZeliangHenry ZeliangRosy Thomson7 Peren (ST)T.R. ZeliangKingudi Joseph Kohima8 Western Angami (ST)Salhoutuonuo Kruse9 Kohima Town (ST)Neikiesalie (Nicky) KireMeshenlo Kath10 Northern Angami I (ST)Kekhrielhoulie YhomeKhriehu Liezietsu11 Northern Angami II (ST)Neiphiu RioSeyievilie Sachü Tseminyü12 Tseminyü (ST)R. Khing Zünheboto13 Pughoboto (ST)Vikheho Swu Kohima14 Southern Angami I (ST)Medo Yhokha15 Southern Angami II (ST)Kropol Vitsü Phek16 Pfütsero (ST)Neiba KronuVivolie Kezo17 Chizami (ST)K. G. KenyeKezhienyi Khalo18 Chozuba (ST)Küdecho KhamoSovenyi19 Phek (ST)Kupota KhesohKuzholuzo NienuZachilhu Ringa Vadeo20 Meluri (ST)Z. Nyusietho NyutheS. Akho Leyri Mokokchung21 Tuli (ST)Panjung Jamir22 Arkakong (ST)Imnatiba23 Impur (ST)T.N. ManenBendangkokba24 Angetyongpang (ST)Tongpang Ozukum25 Mongoya (ST)ImkongmarMoasangba JamirS. Supongmeren Jamir26 Aonglenden (ST)Sharingain LongkumerToshipokba27 Mokokchung Town (ST)Metsubo JamirAlem Jongshi28 Koridang (ST)Imkong L ImchenMajor Toshikaba29 Jangpetkong (ST)TemjenmenbaImjongwati Longkumer30 Alongtaki (ST)Temjen Imna Along Zünheboto31 Akuluto (ST)Kazheto Kinimi32 Atoizu (ST)Kahuli Sema33 Suruhoto (ST)H. Khehovi34 Aghunato (ST)Ikuto Zhimomi35 Zünheboto (ST)K. T. SukhaluAkavi Sümi36 Satakha (ST)G. Kaito Aye Wokha37 Tyüi (ST)Yanthungo Patton38 Wokha (ST)Renbonthung EzungN. Wobenthung Lotha39 Sanis (ST)Mhathung YanthanRoland LothaYanchamo Ovung40 Bhandari (ST)Mmhonlümo KikonAchumbemo KikonChenithung Humtsoe Mon41 Tizit (ST)P. Paiwang KonyakTahwang AnghT. Thomas Konyak42 Wakching (ST)W. Chingang Konyak43 Tapi (ST)Noke WangnaoWanglem Konyak44 Phomching (ST)Konngam KonyakChingsak KonyakT. Ngampai Konyak45 Tehok (ST)C. L. JohnC. Kawang KonyakShaboh Konyak46 Mon Town (ST)Cheong Konyak47 Aboi (ST)Eshak Konyak48 Moka (ST)E. E. PangteangD. Yongnyak Konyak Longleng49 Tamlu (ST)B. S. Nganlang Phom50 Longleng (ST)S. Pangnyu PhomDenngan Y. Avennoho Tuensang51 Noksen (ST)H. Chuba Chang52 Longkhim–Chare (ST)Sethrongkyu Sangtam53 Tuensang Sadar I (ST)Bashanmongba Chang54 Tuensang Sadar II (ST)K. Odibendang ChangH. Zungkum ChangZ. Throngso Yimkhiung Mon55 Tobu (ST)N. Bongkhao Konyak Noklak56 Noklak (ST)H. Haiying57 Thonoknyu (ST)S. Heno Khiamniungan Shamator58 Shamator–Chessore (ST)Keoshu YimchungerH. MukamW. Akum Yimkhiung Kiphire59 Seyochung–Sitimi (ST)V. Kashiho SangtamS. Khaseo Sangtam60 Pungro–Kiphire (ST)S. Kiusumew YimchungerT. Atsubha Yimkhiung

Issues Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) demanded separate state or union territory for Frontier Nagaland (or Eastern Nagaland or formerly called as Tuensang Division). The ENPO called for a boycott of the state assembly election. Janata Dal (United) has raised the issue of unemployment, stating that 90,000 educated youths in Nagaland are still unemployed. The separatist movement in Nagaland which has started since India got its independence. The demand for the removal of the Centre-enforced Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 by many Naga Organizations. Various organisations have demanded for the imposition of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state to regulate entry of outsiders into the state, and for employment throughout the state and inter-state.

Campaigns

Clean Election The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) continues its Clean Election Movement (CEM) with this state elections. NBCC first conceived the campaign in 1973 in time for the 1974 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election. Its aim was to prevent people from selling their votes or accepting bribe. Ever since, the campaign has gained momentum into a church-facilitated movement. However, NBCC leaders acknowledge that there has not been 'elaborate visible progress, but it is gaining ground slowly.' For the 2023 state elections, NBCC launched the campaign through its 20 affiliated and 4 associate church associations mid-2021. This year, CEM is part of the church's celebrations of 150 years of Christianity in Nagaland. The Chakhesang Clean Election Movement launched by the tribe's Baptist church council went further to declare that church workers who wish to involve in the election campaign must resign first and abstain from church-related ministry for a period of five years.

In October 2022, CEM issued a statement registering their protest over the declaration of a consensus candidate from Chungtia village in Mokokchung district accompanied with punitive and dismissive repercussions. They were clear that a consensus candidate through the diktat of the village council is an electoral malpractice and against the Election Code of Conduct. CEM also condemned possible declarations by other village councils or groups and called the church to be more vigilant against these practices. However, the condemnation came in rather late as the consensus candidate (B Toshikaba Longchar) was declared by the Chungtia Senso Mungdang (Chungtia Citizens Forum) on 28 December 2021 followed by the notification from the Chungtia Village Council (CVC) warning the villagers of a penalty of seven pigs for not following the diktat. A Writ petition filed at the Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court challenging the village resolution was first listed for hearing on 27 October 2022. T. Chalukumba Ao, a resident of the village, had approached the court challenging the resolution and consequential notice. Similarly, the Bench has admitted the case against the consensus candidate flouted by the Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Putu Menden (Mongsenyimti Riongsanger Village Council) and their resolutions in December 2021, June 2022, and October 2022. Consequent to the case regarding the village's consensus candidate, the Chungtia Senso Mungdang withdrew its resolution and the Chungtia Village Council withdrew its penalty of seven pigs on detractors.

Surveys & polls Exit polls Election Commission of India had banned exit polls for the period between 7am on 16 February and 7pm on 27 February 2023. Accordingly, the exit polls were published in the evening of 27 February 2023.

Polling agencyLeadNEDANPFINCOthersIndia Today-Axis My India38-483-81-25-1535-40Zee News-Matrize35-432-51-36-1233-38Times Now-ETG39-494-806-1735-41India News-Jan Ki Baat35-456-1009-1529-35Poll of Polls (Average)42611136Actual Result37202114

Results The election marked a historic moment as it saw the first-ever election of two female MLAs to the Nagaland Assembly. The sitting MLA for Akuluto constituency, Kazheto Kinimi, was elected unopposed after his opponent from the Indian National Congress, N. Khekashe Sumi, withdrew his nomination.

Results by alliance and party