Lok Sabha Election 2019, Nagaland profile: Naga People's Front, NDPP to lock horns for state's lone parliamentary seat

The lone seat in the state of Nagaland goes to polls on 11 April. The main electoral fight is expected to be between the Naga People’s Front (NPF), led by TR Zeliang and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), led by incumbent Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. The only other party which is expected to give a tough fight is Congress, which has fielded former chief minister KL Chishi. As Nagaland is religiously homogenous, the elections in this state revolve around tribal issues. In the last Assembly elections, the aspiration for a greater Nagalim, which would include Naga-dominated areas of Manipur, and the peace process with rebel Naga insurgents were important issues. This time too, these two issues are likely to play a role in determining who emerges the winner. Nagaland Lok Sabha Constituency Total electors:  12,09,613 (latest figures) Female electors: 5,96,134 Male electors: 6,13,479 Reserved: No Delimited: No Assembly Constituencies:  All 60 Assembly constituencies that comprise the state Vidhan Sabha. All seats are reserved for the STs except the Dimapur-I seat. Results in last four elections: In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, K Asungba Sangtam won the seat fighting on an Indian National Congress ticket. The 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections were won by W Wangyuh Konyak, CM Chang and Neiphiu Rio respectively. All three fought the election as candidates of the Naga People’s Front. Demographics:  According to the 2011 Census, 90 percent of the population belongs to the Naga tribes. Nagaland is also one of the three northeastern states that have a Christian majority. Reports suggest that the Baptist Church in Nagaland is said to have immense influence in the state. For example, in the last Assembly election, NBCC, the influential Church body wrote letters to all political parties to not compromise on religion in the name of development and for political gains.