Nagaland Assembly Elections 2018: When the only 'road' leads to CM

There is a rare smooth drive of nearly 40 km in Nagaland, a state that is otherwise dotted with crumbling roads. This road extends from Kohima to Botsa — at the doorstep of former chief minister and aspiring CM Neiphu Rio's village Touphema.

A gate reading 'Welcome to Touphema' greets the motorists at Botsa. The remote village off the National Highway is a tourist destination. Referred to as the "tourist village" it gives travellers a taste of Naga life.

"Thanks to this we get some tourists here and that boosts our business," said Joga, a shop owner.

Barely a five minute drive from this place, and the bumpy roads are back.

Poor condition of roads in Nagaland has ensured that the state remains backward. While the BJP-led Narendra Modi government is focusing on connecting Northeast to mainland India, opening an Asian Highway connecting Nagaland to Thailand remains a distant dream with roads connecting important areas of the state still in a shocking state.

Rio is ensured of a win as he is the unopposed candidate from the Northern Angami-II constituency that happens to fall on the same stretch of road.

As other possible candidates withdrew their nominations, Rio is once again in the race to be Chief Minister as he heads his newly-formed National Democratic People's Party that has struck a pre-poll seat sharing alliance with BJP.

Rio was earlier with the Naga People's Front (NPF) and was appointed Chief Minster when the party came to power in 2013, but moved to Delhi as he was elected to the Lok Sabha as the sole representative from the state.

People in his constituency are happy that there is no need for an election. "After the constituency ends the road is back to normal," said Ruovizo Kiewhuo, a resident of Chiephobozou which falls under the constituency.