Naga People’s Front (NPF) leader Kuzholuzo Nienu (Azo) had a tight contest against Kupota Khesoh of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Phek Assembly constituency in Nagaland general elections 2023.

NPF Leader Azo Nienu who is also the legislative party leader of NPF in the 13th Assembly was in a 3-cornered contest after Indian National Congress decided to field Zachilhu Ringa Vadeo.

Kupota (NDPP) took the lead from round 1 of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting and held on till the fourth round where he had a slender lead of 122 votes over Azo.

In the fifth round, Azo took a substantial lead of 363 votes over Kupota.

However, Kupota won the sixth round to regain the lead by a margin of 213 votes, which narrowed down to 91 votes at the end of counting of EVM rounds.

At the end of EVM rounds, Kupota had a slender lead of 91 votes over Azo Nienu and it looked improbable for a comeback with only postal ballots to go.

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However, the number of postal ballots was quite high in the constituency and the number of votes was like an average polling station.

There were 686 postal ballots out of which 270 went to Kupota while 409 votes went to Azo Nienu.

The lead obtained in the postal ballot round was enough to wipe out the deficit in EVM round as Azo won by a slender margin of 48 votes.

Azo Nienu will become a 5-time MLA. He was earlier elected to Nagaland Legislative Assembly 4 times from Phek Assembly constituency in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 elections.