Chakat Aboh, wife of slain MLA Tirong Aboh, has won the Khonsa West byelection in Arunachal Pradesh by a margin of 1,887 votes.

Chakat, who fought the bypoll as an Independent, garnered 5,705 of the 9,591 votes cast on October 21. Her opponent, Azet Homtok, also an Independent, got 3,818 votes. Altogether 68 voters pressed the none of the above button.

The byelection saw 89 per cent voters exercising their franchise in 23 polling stations. The constituency has 10,185 voters (4,959 male and 5,226 female).

Talking to The Telegraph, Chakat said, “I thank the people of Arunachal Pradesh for showing so much of love and supporting me and my family throughout this difficult phase of my life. I am also grateful to chief minister Pema Khandu and all the political parties for supporting me.”

Khonsa West had fallen vacant after its legislator Tirong Aboh, his 20-year-old son and nine others were gunned down by suspected insurgents in Tirap district of Arunachal on May 21 this year.

Tirong, who had contested this year’s Assembly elections as a National People’s Party (NPP) candidate, was on his way to Khonsa, the district headquarters of Tirap, from Dibrugarh in Assam when suspected Naga militants opened fire on his four-vehicle convoy. The results, declared after his death, saw Aboh retain the seat by defeating his lone rival, Phawang Lowang of the BJP, by 1,055 votes.

After the killings, all the major political parties of the state, including the BJP, had declared Chakat as their consensus candidate for the seat.

Speaking about her plans for the constituency, Chakat said, “I would first like to finish all the incomplete projects started by my husband. I will also do my best to bring back peace and harmony in the constituency, which the people here have been deprived of for two decades.”

She said she would try her best to eliminate the communal politics that allegedly exists between Dadam and Lazu circles. Chakat belongs to Dadam village and circle while Homtok is a native of Lonyen village in Lazu circle, both in Tirap district.

After the Khonsa byelection, the BJP continues to rule the state with 41 seats in the 60-member Assembly, the Janata Dal United has seven seats, the Congress has four seats, the NPP, having lost a legislator, now has four seats, the People’s Party of Arunachal, the lone regional party of the state, has one seat, and there are three Independents, including Chakat.

Sources close to newly elected MLA said Chakat is most likely to join the BJP. “Looking into the effort the BJP has put in during the campaigning and also the support given by the chief minister and leaders of the BJP, she is likely to join the BJP,” a source said.

Chief minister Khandu and deputy chief minister Chowna Mein congratulated Chakat.

Khandu tweeted: “Congrats to Smt Chakat Aboh for winning 56-Khonsa West by-election Assembly seat by 1887 votes as Ind candidate. I also congratulate @BJP4Aruna-chal party workers for their effort in getting her elected as MLA that fell vacant following death of her late husband & MLA Tirong Aboh.”

Mein tweeted: “Extend my heartiest congratulations to Chakat Aboh for the magnificent victory in the 56-Khonsa West (ST) byelection Assembly seat winning it by 1887 votes as Independent candidate. I wish you all the best for your future.”