By IANS,
Mokokchung (Nagaland) : Veteran Congress leader and former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir Friday lost an assembly by-poll to the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate Toshikopba Longkumer.
“Longkumer defeated Jamir by 1,320 votes,” L.G. Chishi, returning officer of Mokokchung, told IANS.
Jamir, a five-time chief minister and former governor of Maharashtra and Goa, managed to get 4,945 votes, while Longkumer bagged 6,265 votes.
The by-election was necessitated following the death of Congress legislator Nungshizenba Longkumer in 2011.
Jamir, who had never lost an election in his political career, said: “It’s a contest and someone must win and lose and I am not losing anything.”
However, Congress termed Jamir’s defeat as a “major embarrassment” for the party, which is plagued with internal bickering over the leadership issue.
“The party will soon sit and review the cause of our failure,” said K.L. Chishi, a senior Congress legislator.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio congratulated the people of Aonglenden constituency “for voting for a change, for believing in youth and for expressing faith in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland” government.
With Friday’s victory, the ruling NPF has increased its strength to 35 in the 60-member assembly, while the opposition Congress is reduced to 17.