Arunachal MLA who was shot dead by insurgents wins Khonsa West seat

Arunachal Pradesh MLA Tirong Aboh, who was shot dead by insurgents near Bogapani in Tirap district on Tuesday (May 21), has reportedly won Khonsa West the constituency from where he was seeking a re-election.

The slain NPP candidate defeated the BJP’s Phawang Lowang by nearly 4,000 votes.

However, fresh election are likely to be declared on the seat as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) norms.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP seems all set to storm back to power in Arunachal Pradesh. According to the Election Commission of India, the party has won 20 Assembly seats and is leading in 12 constituencies.

The Janata Dal (United) has won five seats while the Congress has won three. The NPP and People’s Party of Arunachal has won one seat each.

Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has 60-seats, but elections were held for only 57 seats as three BJP candidates had already won unopposed.

The state was rocked by the gunning down of Aboh and 10 others by suspected NSCN (IM) militants in Tirap district just two days before the counting of votes.

Aboh, a sitting MLA from Khonsa West constituency, was seeking a re-election from the seat on National People’s Party (NPP) ticket. The Conrad Sangma-led NPP is an ally of the BJP in northeastern states.