In a constituency where village politics and personalities have traditionally outweighed party lines, the Koridang byelection is beginning to look unusually crowded and unusually significant.
With the last date for filing nominations set for March 23, the contest has already drawn candidates from major parties as well as independents. The National People’s Party (NPP) has fielded Abenjang from Longkhum, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named Daochier I Imchen of Mangmetong, son of former legislator Imkong L Imchen. The Indian National Congress (INC), which has had little presence here for over two decades, has fielded T Chalukumba Ao from Chungtia.
Independents, too, are in the mix. Imchatoba (Mangmetong) and Imtiwapang Kichu (Chungtia) have declared their candidature, in their village while Major (Retd) Toshikaba, though in the race, has so far kept a low profile.
On paper, it is a multi-cornered contest. On the ground, it is shaping into something more layered.
The BJP’s approach stands out. In a communication to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the party has named a list of star campaigners that includes Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton, state president Benjamin Yepthomi, national spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra, and national secretary Anil K Antony, along with senior state leaders such as Temjen Imna Along, Phangnon Konyak, P Paiwang Konyak, and Jacob Zhimomi.
Such deployment is not typical for a byelection here.
In contrast, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has remained largely silent. His absence from the campaign narrative has not gone unnoticed, particularly given his association with the Naga People’s Front (NPF), a party with deep roots in the state. Whether this silence is tactical or incidental is unclear but it adds to the sense that more is at play than a routine by-poll.
The Congress, meanwhile, is attempting a quiet re-entry. Its decision to field a candidate after more than 25 years signals an effort to test ground in a constituency where it has historically struggled to find footing.
The NPP’s move has drawn attention for different reasons. The party is understood to have pushed its candidate from the national level, reportedly without consulting its Nagaland unit seen by some as an attempt to assert control and expand its base.
Yet, beyond party moves, Koridang has its own political logic.
For over two decades, it was represented by the late Imkong L Imchen a figure whose personal appeal often outweighed party identity. Voters here have long responded more to individuals than to symbols. In that sense, the current election is as much about who can command that personal connect as it is about party strength.
The entry of his son, Daochier I Imchen, brings continuity but not certainty.
The clustering of candidates from Mangmetong and Chungtia also points to the importance of village-level dynamics, which could prove decisive in a fragmented contest.
Beyond Koridang, the by-election is unfolding against a shifting political backdrop. There is growing speculation that the BJP may look to contest all 60 seats in the 2028 Assembly elections, something that could test its understanding with regional parties, including the Naga People’s Front.
In that context, even a single seat begins to matter. The state’s “40–20” equation adds another layer, making Koridang more than just a routine contest.
For regional parties, it is also about holding ground at a time when national parties are steadily expanding their space.
Koridang may still be a by-election on paper. But in tone, participation, and political interest, it is already being treated as something larger.