Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023Image Credit source: PTI
Voting for Mizoram Assembly elections was conducted in one phase, which ended at 4 o’clock. According to the Election Commission, out of 8.57 lakh voters, about 77.04 percent voters exercised their franchise. The Election Commission had started voting at 7 am. According to the data, 52.73 percent voting was recorded in the first six hours of voting.
More than 8.57 lakh voters, including 4.39 lakh women, have exercised their franchise in the Mizoram elections to decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates. State Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Liyanzela says that the voting was peaceful and there was no law and order problem.
The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and Congress have fielded candidates on all 40 seats. BJP is contesting elections in 23 constituencies, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded its candidates on four seats. Apart from this, 27 independent candidates are also contesting.
EVM broke down at Aizawl polling station
An official said that a technical fault in the EVM was reported from a polling booth in Aizawl, where Chief Minister Zoramthanga had gone to cast his vote. The Chief Minister had gone to Ramhalun Vengalai Primary School polling booth in the morning, but the EVM was not working at that time. So, he went back home and came to vote again at 9.40 am.
State Congress president Lal Sawta also cast his vote at 7.40 am at a polling booth in his Aizawl West-III constituency. There were 1,276 polling stations in Mizoram. Of these, 149 were remote voting centres. Apart from this, 30 polling stations were set up on inter-state and international borders, which were declared serious and unsafe.
7,200 soldiers deployed in Mizoram
Officials said that 7,200 personnel were deployed across the state to ensure comprehensive security arrangements to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. Before voting, 510 km long international border with Myanmar and 318 km long border with Bangladesh have been sealed. Counting of votes will take place on December 3. In the last assembly elections 2018, there was 81.61 percent voting.
MNF had won 26 out of 40 seats. It won two more seats in the subsequent by-elections, while the opposition ZPM could win eight seats. At the same time, Congress had hoisted the victory flag on five seats and became the third party, while BJP opened its account by winning one seat in the Christian dominated state.
