Election
State story

Nagaland: the INC years, 1982–2003

14 Assembly elections · 1964–2023 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.

Who held the house

bar width = years in charge · tap one for that election
1964IND
1969NNO
1974UDF
1982INC
2008NPF
2023NDPP

Indian National Congress has led 6 of 14 elections; power changed hands 5 times.

Seats over time

the leading parties
INCpeak 53 · 1998
5319642023
INDpeak 40 · 1964
4019642023
NPFpeak 38 · 2013
3819642023
UDFpeak 35 · 1977
3519642023

Nagaland has voted in 14 Assembly elections between 1964 and 2023. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 6 of them — more than any rival.

Power has changed hands 5 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1982 to 2003 across 6 elections.

In 1974, UDF broke through — 25 of 60 seats — ending NNO's hold, which fell from 22 to 23.

In 1982, Indian National Congress broke through — 24 of 60 seats — ending UDF's hold, which fell from 35 to 0.

In 2008, Naga Peoples Front broke through — 26 of 60 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 21 to 23.

In 2023, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party broke through — 25 of 60 seats — ending Naga Peoples Front's hold, which fell from 26 to 0.

The sharpest single swing was 1974: UDF went from 0 to 25 seats, a gain of 25.

UDF's steepest fall came in 1982, from 35 seats to 0.

The closest verdict was 1982: Indian National Congress finished just 0 seats ahead of NND.

Most recently, in 2023, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party holds 25 of 60 seats on 32.2% of the vote — short of the 31-seat majority.

Pivotal elections

who held the house, seat by seat
First on record · 1964open →
40IND
  • IND40100%

Independent · 100.0% of the vote · majority

The wave · 1974open →
25UDF
  • UDF2542%
  • NNO2338%
  • IND1220%

UDF · 30.0% of the vote · short of majority

Most recent · 2023open →
25NDPP
  • NDPP2542%
  • BJP1220%
  • NCP712%
  • NPP58%
  • Others1118%

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party · 32.2% of the vote · short of majority

The turn of 1974

1974 seats minus 1969
seats lostseats gained
UDF
0 → 25
+25
NNO
22 → 23
+1
IND
8 → 12
+4
UFN
10 → 0
−10

Every time power changed hands

  1. 1969NNO took the house with 22 of 40, ending IND’s run (40 → 8).
  2. 1974UDF took the house with 25 of 60, ending NNO’s run (22 → 23).
  3. 1982INC took the house with 24 of 60, ending UDF’s run (35 → 0).
  4. 2008NPF took the house with 26 of 60, ending INC’s run (21 → 23).
  5. 2023NDPP took the house with 25 of 60, ending NPF’s run (26 → 0).

Party identity

renames, splits and mergers along the way
  • Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
  • NNO merged into Indian National Congress in 1976.