P. Longon
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
Puthai Longon (born 1961) is an Indian politician from Nagaland. He is a four time MLA from Noklak Assembly constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, in Noklak District. He won the 2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election, representing Nationalist Congress Party.{{Cite web |last=News Desk |first=HT |date=2 March 2023 |title=Nagaland election result 2023: Full list of winners constituency-wise |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nagaland-election-winner-list-2023-ndpp-bjp-winner-candidate-list-for-nagaland-assembly-election-2023-leading-trailing-candidate-party-101677731585125.html |access-date=5 November 2024 |website=www.hindustantimes.com}} He also served as a minister for 15 years and returned to electoral politics after a gap of five years in 2023.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=19 April 2023 |title=Noklak has four Ranges but share one kitchen: MLA Longon calls for unity |url=https://nagalandtribune.in/noklak-has-four-ranges-but-share-one-kitchen-mla-longon-calls-for-unity/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=Nagaland Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Longon calls on Health minister|url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/2016/11/29/longon-calls-on-health-minister/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=nagalandpost.com}}{{Cite web |title=Longon meets union health minister|url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/2014/07/05/longon-meets-union-health-minister/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=nagalandpost.com}}
Early life and education
Longon is from Noklak, Nagaland. He is the son of late Puthai. He completed his B.A. in 1987 at Patkai College, North Eastern Hill University.{{Cite web |title=Puthai Longon(Nationalist Congress Party(NCP)):Constituency- NOKLAK (ST)(TUENSANG) – Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://www.myneta.info/Nagaland2023/candidate.php?candidate_id=6901 |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=www.myneta.info}}
Career
Longon won from Noklak Assembly constituency representing Nationalist Congress Party in the 2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election. He polled 8,482 votes and defeated his nearest rival and sitting MLA, H. Haiying of the Bharatiya Janata Party, by a margin of 734 votes.
He first became an MLA winning the 2003 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election representing Naga People's Front. In 2003, he polled 5,736 votes and defeated his nearest rival, Sedem Khaming of the Indian National Congress, by a margin of 943 votes.{{Cite web |title=IndiaVotes AC: Winner Candidates of NPF for 2003 |url=https://www.indiavotes.com/ac/detailwrank?stateac=33&emid=166&party=637&radio=ac |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=IndiaVotes}} He retained the seat for NPF winning the 2008 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election, where he defeated Khaming again, by a huge margin of 5,772 votes.{{Cite web |title=Noklak Assembly Constituency Election Result - Legislative Assembly Constituency |url=https://resultuniversity.com/election/noklak-nagaland-assembly-constituency |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=resultuniversity.com}} He won for a third consecutive term in the 2013 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election.{{Cite web |title=Puthai Longon in Nagaland Assembly Elections 2023 |url=https://www.news18.com/assembly-elections-2023/nagaland/puthai-longon-noklak-candidate-s17a056c001/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=News18 |language=en}} In 2013, he polled 9,168 and defeated the Indian National Congress candidate, H. Haiying, by a margin of 3,305 votes.
However, in the 2018 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election, he lost as an NPF candidate to Haiying, who contested this time on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket.{{Cite web |title=Nagaland Election: Noklak Assembly constituency result 2023 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/acno56-acno56.html |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} He regained the seat winning the 2023 Assembly election after shifting to Nationalist Congress Party and became an MLA for the fourth time.{{Cite web |date=2 March 2023 |title=Nagaland Assembly Election results 2023: Check full list of winners |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/nagaland-assembly-election-results-2023-winners-8473973/ |access-date=6 November 2024 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}