With barely seven days left for filing nominations for the Koridang Assembly Constituency by-election, the political atmosphere in the constituency remains unusually quiet, creating uncertainty over who will eventually enter the race.
The last date for filing nominations is March 23.
The seat fell vacant following the demise of veteran legislator Imkong L Imchen, who represented the constituency for nearly 25 years and was serving as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator in the PDA government at the time of his death.
So far, the BJP has not officially announced its candidate. BJP legislators are understood to be backing Daochier I Imchen, son of the late Imkong L Imchen. Preparatory work has reportedly begun in Mangmetong village, though Daochier has yet to make an official declaration.
Meanwhile, Imchatoba Imchen, president of the NPF Central Youth Organization, has been declaring his intention to contest. However, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has remained silent regarding the possibility of fielding him as its candidate.
Both the BJP and the NPF have not yet announced their candidates.
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From Chungtia village, Major (Retd) Toshikaba and Imtiwapang are also being viewed as potential contenders, although neither has formally announced their candidature. Preparations are said to be underway within the village, with limited and mostly closed-door campaigning reportedly taking place in the constituency.
From Longkhum village, Imchaienba and Apenjang are also believed to be interested in contesting, though both have remained silent so far.
Earlier, the Indian National Congress had stated in a press conference last month that the party would also participate in the by-election.
Observers say the by-election may also have implications beyond Koridang, with some viewing it as an early indicator of political alignments in the neighbouring 27 Mokokchung Town Assembly Constituency ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
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For nearly 25 years, the Koridang constituency was represented by Imkong L Imchen, and most of the individuals now being discussed as possible candidates are relatively new faces in electoral politics. Apart from Major (Retd) Toshikaba and Chalukumba, many of the potential contenders are first-time aspirants, contributing to the prevailing sense of uncertainty.
Earlier, Nagaland saw a seat-sharing understanding between the erstwhile Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party, commonly described as a 40–20 seat-sharing formula during Assembly elections. However, the political equations in the Koridang by-election appear less clear following the merger of the NDPP unit in the constituency with the Naga People’s Front, creating uncertainty over which party will ultimately field a candidate.
