Guwahati, March 8
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), led by the regional Naga People’s Front (NPF), is coasting towards formation of the next government in the state with the NPF bagging 25 seats so far against 22 won by the Congress as counting of votes from 57 Assembly segments out of the total 60 seats was completed.

The NPF, which was trailing far behind the Congress in the early hours of counting, surged ahead later in the evening. Its alliance partners, the BJP and the NCP, so far won two seats each to make the combined tally of the DAN so far 29, just two short of the magic figure of 31.

The six Independents who have emerged winners are now holding the key to the seat of power in Kohima. The DAN comprises the NPF, the BJP, NCP, JD(U) and is expecting support of some of these Independents, according to a source in the NPF.

The DAN had projected the NPF leader Neiphu Rio as its chief ministerial candidate. It will be second consecutive term for Rio if the DAN succeeds in forming the next government in the state.

Results of the rest three Assembly constituencies will be available only tomorrow given that re-polling was held in some of the polling stations in those constituencies today. The outcome of the polls in those constituencies will be vital in deciding the composition of the next government in Nagaland even as NPF leader Rio claimed that his party was going to win all those three seats.

Rio said the NPF had emerged as the single largest party and with support of its DAN allies, the BJP and the NCP, it was going to form the next government in the state. He attributed the victory of the party and DAN to the people. A crucial meeting of the NPF and DAN constituents will be held in Kohima tomorrow.