Supongmeren’s victory marked a historic moment and fulfilled many hopes for a change in governance in the state. His win was warmly welcomed, with supporters across the state seen celebrating joyously
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
Defeating the NDPP-BJP led candidate with a margin of more than 50,000 votes, the seat to the lone Lok Sabha seat was grabbed by “superman” a.k.a S. Supongmeren Jamir of the INDIA Bloc on Wednesday. He ousted Dr Chumben Murry, the much-talked-about NDPP-BJP candidate supported by the 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Supongmeren’s victory marked a historic moment and fulfilled many hopes for a change in governance in the state. His win was warmly welcomed, with supporters across the state seen celebrating joyously.
In a “neck-to-neck” battle against the NDPP-BJP candidate, S. Supongmeren Jamir won the lone Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 50,984 votes, securing a total of 4,01,951 votes. His nearest rival, Dr. Chumben Murry garnered 3,50,967 votes.
Meanwhile, independent candidate Hayithung Tungoe Lotha received only 6,232 votes, and 1,648 votes were cast for None of the Above (NOTA).
Speaking to this correspondent, a veteran politician of the state said that Congress’s win was what the people were longing for a “change” in governance since the last election held in the year 2014 with the Congress’s win into the Lok Sabha in 1999 (K Asungba Sangtam) being in the lower house till 2004.
The election in the year 2019 also saw the ruling NDPP candidate from the state, Tokheho Yepthomi, a former Congress cabinet minister of the state winning with a little over 13000 votes against the Congress candidate and former chief minister of Nagaland and finance minister of Nagaland, KL Chishi.
A committed leader who had once been an MLA talking to reporters in Kohima after his win acknowledged his supporters and electorates for giving a mandate to the Congress and asserted his conviction towards development and welfare of the people and the state without any “discrimination or bias” to any individual.
A nostalgia gripped with emotions on the party having won the Lok Sabha election after two decades, Supongmeren Jamir, said the party has still more works to be executed while also to reach the grassroots in order to “regain” their confidence.
The strategy of the Congress party on winning the 18th Lok Sabha lone seat from the state, Supongmeren Jamir said his win was based on “issues and desire” of the people so as to let the democracy prevail including equality amongst the minority community and others.
He later went on to add that he would work towards fulfilling the election promises which he made through the party’s manifesto to the people of the state.
S Supongmeren Jamir, who also holds the chair of Nagaland state Congress president, expressed that his win would be a “comeback” for the Congress party in the state which did not have a single MLA in the Nagaland state assembly since 2014 following the defection of eight Congress MLAs who had won the 2013 NLA elections.
Jamir also expressed his gratitude to AICC heads including Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi, for reposing their faith in him.
Meanwhile, Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief minister, Y Patton, along with NPF legislature party leader, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, have congratulated S Supongmeren Jamir, on his win to the lone Lok Sabha seat.
Only 40 A/Cs participated in 18th Lok Sabha polls, says CEO Nagaland
After the end to the electoral process to the 18th Lok Sabha elections across the state of Nagaland on June 4 despite no conduct of the same in the 20 seats under the Eastern Nagaland as opted for boycotting within its jurisdiction, Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vyasan R, and Nagaland Commissioner, and Returning Officer, Sushil Kumar, both IAS, in a joint press conference with media persons at AWO Ki, D-Block Kohima, informed that out of the 60 assembly constituencies in the state, the people have voted only for 40 A/Cs.
Sushil Kumar said that altogether total valid votes casted were 7,59,150 and out of which the winning candidate, S. Supongmeren Jamir, of the INC totalled 4,01,951 votes while Dr Chumben Murry of NDPP had to content with 350,967 votes.
Independent candidate, Hayithung Tungoe Lotha got 6,230 votes.
He added that there were 1,646 votes under NOTA while 2,392 votes were rejected.
Also highlighting the postal ballot votes, Kumar said out of 6,035 postal ballot votes casted by polling officers on duty and service votes, 3,642 were valid votes while 2,393 were invalid votes. Kumar also said that all counting of votes were done at district headquarters including Pughoboto and postal ballot votes were counted at the Commissioner Nagaland’s office, Kohima.
DPC trashes media bias ‘allegation’
Dimapur Press Club (DPC) while positioning its ethical norms has on Tuesday clarified to a certain note or allegation against reporters or journos covering the counting of the poll (votes) held at Deputy Commissioner (DC) office, Dimapur.
Countering the unwarranted “allegations” that the media fraternity has leanings towards a particular political party in the recently concluded 18th Lok Sabha election which the counting of the votes was held on June 4, DPC president, Imkong Walling, clarified that coverage/reportage of election-related events be it of the Congress, BJP, NDPP etc should not in any way, whatsoever, be regarded as extending support or solidarity.
He said that it is the job and the duty of the 4th estate to cover all or any events irrespective of the nature of the event or party.
“It would be misconceived on the part of the congress (or any other party) to assume that the party and its candidate got media coverage on grounds of shared ideology. We covered the congress’ programmes because it was a job, not out of support. Same sentiment goes out to the NDPP-BJP bloc, “ he added.