Mizoram reports peaceful polling with 80.43 % turnouts, more female cast votes

The office of the Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer said Serchhip district reported the highest of 84.75% polling while Siaha saw lowest turnout of 75.79%.

Guwahati: Mizoram registered 80.43 per cent polling on Tuesday when voting for all 40 Assembly constituencies were conducted.

The office of the Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer said Serchhip district reported the highest of 84.75 per cent polling while Siaha saw lowest turnout of 75.79 percent.

Interestingly, more female voters cast their votes (81.21%), compared to 79.61 voting by the males. Mizoram has over 21,000 more female voters.

Polling was peaceful with no reports of untoward incidents or violence from the state.

In 2018, Mizoram had registered 81.61 percent polling.

Polling was conducted between 7am and 4pm.

Although turnout was low in the morning, it picked up and by 1pm, 50.64 percent of people had cast their votes.

CM and president of ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) Zoramthanga and Congress state president Lalsawta were among those who cast their votes by 10 am.

Technical glitches in EVM were reported at a polling station where CM Zoramthanga went to cast his vote in the morning. "The CM Zoramthanga, who is a voter in Aizawl North II constituency, aimed at becoming the first voter to cast his vote in the polling station. But he could not succeed as there was a technical glitch in the machine. However, the glitch was promptly resolved without replacing the machine and voting went on smoothly," said a statement.

"We will form the new government on our own," Zoramthanga told reporters after casting his vote. The Opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) too exuded confidence about forming the government without support from any other party.

A triangular fight among the MNF, ZPM, and Congress is expected in the state with just 8.57 lakh voters.

Mizoram is the smallest among the five states going for Assembly elections ahead of Lok Sabha polls next year.

A total of 174 candidates, including 16 women, are in the fray.

Chief Electoral Officer, Mizoram Madhup Vyas told reporters at Aizawl on Monday that nearly 6,000 polling personnel were deployed to conduct the polling in 1,276 polling stations amid security manned by the state police and 50 companies of central paramilitary forces.

Poll battle:

Elections in Mizoram have remained a straight fight between the regional MNF and Congress (since Mizoram attained statehood in 1987), but the main battle this time is expected to be between MNF and ZPM, a relatively new regional party. Congress, which lost the power to MNF in 2018, is seen as the number three party in the contest this time.

While the ruling MNF is confident of retaining power mainly due to its "pro-Mizo" stand in the wake of the conflicts in neighbouring Myanmar and Manipur, ZPM promised voters a "new system" and corruption free government as it aims to snatch power from the MNF. Congress is confident of bouncing back to power with its promise of Karnataka and Rajasthan-like welfare schemes.

In 2018, MNF bounced back to power after a decade with 26 seats while Congress was pushed to the third spot with just five seats. The ZPM candidates, who contested as Independents, surprised many by bagging seven seats. MNF, ZPM and Congress are contesting in all 40 seats while BJP put up candidates in 23 seats.

Results of the elections are scheduled on December 3, along with four other states.