Election
State story

Nagaland: the INC years, 1982–2003

14 Assembly elections · 19642023 · 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 (408).
  2. 1974UDF took the house with 25 of 60, ending NNO’s run (2223).
  3. 1982INC took the house with 24 of 60, ending UDF’s run (350).
  4. 2008NPF took the house with 26 of 60, ending INC’s run (2123).
  5. 2023NDPP took the house with 25 of 60, ending NPF’s run (260).

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.