25% want Neiphiu Rio to continue as Nagaland chief minister: India Today-Axis My India survey

The NDPP-BJP alliance is projected to retain power in Nagaland and 25 per cent want Neiphiu Rio to continue as chief minister, an India Today-Axis My India survey of over 6,000 people showed.

Chief Minister Rio, seeking re-election for the second consecutive term and his fourth time, seemed confident that the NDPP-BJP alliance would return to power with a massive mandate.

The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and the BJP are contesting the polls on a 40:20 seat-sharing arrangement in the 60-seat Assembly.

Eight per cent voted for any other candidate from the NDPP and a similar number would want to see BJP’s state chief Temjen Imna Along to take over as chief minister. Along has taken the internet by storm with his sense of humour, which is often self-deprecating.

Five per cent want to see Yanthungo Patton in the top post, while three per cent are willing to settle for anyone from the BJP.

Four per cent said they wanted the chief minister to be from the Congress, while seven per cent from the NPF. A whopping 28 per cent either said they wanted it to be from the LJP, NPP, NCP, RPI(A), JDU and RLD or that they didn’t know.

A voter turnout of over 75.49 per cent was reported in Nagaland till 3 pm. The electoral fate of 183 candidates will be decided when votes are counted on March 2.