NDPP sweeps ULB polls, wins all three municipal councils, most town councils

Guwahati: After suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Congress in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Nagaland’s ruling NDPP has made a resounding comeback by securing a victory in all three municipal councils and most town councils in the urban local body polls in the state. The results of the ULB polls were declared on Saturday.
This civic body election in Nagaland was historic for two reasons.It was held after a hiatus of 20 years, and with a 33%reservation of seats for women.
As per the latest official updates, NDPP has emerged triumphant in 92 seats, followed by NPF with 12 seats, BJP with eight, Congress, NCP and JDU with five each, NPP with four, LJP with two, and independents securing 39 seats.
NDPP made a clean sweep in all three municipal councils — Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur. In the 21 town councils, the ruling party secured a majority in most, with the exception of Wokha, Bhandari and Phek.
In the Kohima municipal council, NDPP had already secured five of the 19 seats unopposed. The party went on to win eight more seats in Kohima, attaining a clear majority.
Similarly, in Mokokchung municipal council, NDPP has emerged victorious in 15 out of the total 18 seats. The party had already won six seats uncontested in Mokokchung.
At the time of filing this report, counting for the 23 seats of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) was under way. NDPP has secured 13 wards in DMC, establishing a clear majority.
“Congratulations to the winning candidates in the ULB elections. I extend my best wishes as you take on the responsibilities to address civic issues. I’m confident your dedication will lead to positive changes, and fulfillment of the public’s expectations in your respective wards,” chief minister Neiphiu Rio wrote on X.
Nzanrhomi I Mozhui, a 22-year-old BJP candidate, emerged as the youngest candidate to secure victory in this election, winning ward 1 of Bhandari Town Council in Wokha district. She defeated Hayiana Y Tungoe of NPF in Bhandari, which is the sole urban local body where the NDPP did not field any candidate.
Among the town councils where NDPP’s magic failed to work is the Wokha town council, where the party won seven out of the 15 seats. The NCP secured five seats, while the BJP won three seats in the Wokha town council.
In both Bhandari and Phek town councils, the Naga People’s Front (NPF) secured a majority. In Bhandari town council, NPF emerged victorious in six out of the nine wards, while BJP and JDU secured one seat each, and an independent candidate also won from a ward. In the Phek town council, NPF registered a decisive victory by winning seven out of the nine seats.