The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has collected 2,08,057 signatures from across the state under its “Vote Chori, Gaddi Chhodd” campaign – an initiative the party says marks the beginning of its preparations for the 2028 general elections.
According to NPCC data, Kohima district led with 72,000 signatures, followed by Dimapur (50,000), Mon (20,000), Tuensang (12,439) and Zunheboto (12,401). Smaller districts such as Peren, Wokha, Longleng, Phek, Kiphire, and Noklak contributed the rest.
Addressing a press conference in Kohima on Saturday, Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir congratulated party workers for the campaign’s success and said the drive was launched to “connect with the grassroots” and promote “clean and fair elections.”
“Our first aim is to connect with the grassroots and promote the vision of clean elections. We have taken this issue seriously and taken up the matter with the AICC through this signature campaign against vote manipulation,” Jamir said.
He described the exercise as the beginning of the Congress’s organisational preparations for the next general elections, saying the party would continue to fight for clean elections and good governance.
“This is not a campaign against any individual, but against policies and programs that have failed to reach the people. We want to bring these issues into the public domain and make people aware of their rights,” he added.
NPCC working president Khriedi Theünuo said the initial target of 1.5 lakh signatures was exceeded.
“We are thankful to our district committees and party workers who have collected more than the targeted figure,” he said, adding that the signatures will be submitted to the All India Congress Committee (AICC), which will forward them to the President of India.
Theünuo described “vote chori” (vote theft) as “a betrayal of democracy,” adding that the campaign was meant to highlight alleged irregularities and unfair practices under the present government.
While the Congress remains without representation in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the signature campaign marks one of its most visible state-level mobilizations in recent years.
Party leaders maintain that the campaign was open to all citizens, not just Congress supporters. “Those who are concerned about their votes being manipulated by the ruling government, irrespective of party affiliation, have signed the campaign,” Jamir said.