Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 7 urged people in Mizoram, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large numbers, as every vote will lay the foundation of a developed and prosperous Mizoram.
“I urge our sisters and brothers in Mizoram, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large numbers. Each and every vote will lay the foundation of a developed and prosperous Mizoram,” Shah said in a post on ‘X’.
I urge our sisters and brothers in Mizoram, especially the youth to come out and vote in large numbers.
Each and every vote will lay the foundation of a developed and prosperous Mizoram.— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 7, 2023
Meanwhile, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga was unable to cast his vote in the Mizoram assembly elections since the electronic voting machine was not working. The Mizo National Front (MNF) President went to cast his vote in the morning hours today at 19-Aizawl Venglai-I YMA Hall polling station under the Aizawl North-II assembly constituency.
“Because the machine was not working. I was waiting for some time. But since the machine could not work I said that I will visit my constituency and I will vote after the morning meet,” the Chief Minister said speaking to media.
“In order to form the Government, 21 seats are needed. We hope that we will be able to get more than that, maybe 25 or more. That is our hope. I believe that we will have a comfortable majority,” he added.
#WATCH | Mizoram elections | CM and MNF president Zoramthanga says, "It will not be a hung Assembly. It will be MNF Government. I have full confidence in that."
"BJP is not an alliance partner. NDA is there in the Centre. Here in the state, we don't have any alliance with BJP or… pic.twitter.com/BX297Gymin
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
“Even with the COVID in which there was a great problem all over the world, we fought more or less successfully against COVID. In the Covid period all over the wrold it was a fight for survival. Despite that, here in Mizoram we have done a lot of developmental work in social, in political and in the government side. Therefore, I believe that in order to continue the works that we have laid down we shall be able to form the Government,” he said.
After getting out from the polling booth the Chief Minister said that there will not be a hung Assembly in Mizoram and his party will form the Government. “It will not be a hung Assembly. It will be an MNF Government. I have full confidence in that.” he said.
#WATCH | Mizoram elections | CM and MNF president Zoramthanga could not cast a vote; he says, "Because the machine was not working. I was waiting for some time. But since the machine could not work I said that I will visit my constituency and vote after the morning meal." https://t.co/ytRdh7OpKe pic.twitter.com/ogGoQu0Sdn
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
Zoramthanga said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not an alliance partner of the MNF though the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which the MNF is a part of, is at the Centre.
“BJP is not an alliance partner. NDA is there in the Centre. Here in the state, we don’t have any alliance with BJP or any other party. So far they have not approached us, we have not approached them. We are only a partner of the NDA in the Centre, here in the state we support the NDA even on issue-based,” he says.
Zoramthanga stands out as one of the most prominent figures in this election. Having previously won Aizawl East – I in the 2018 assembly elections, Zoramthanga is once again contesting from the same constituency.
According to the CEO, Mizoram, the total number of electors in Mizoram stands at 8,51,895. Out of which 4,12,969 are male, 4,38,925 are female, and 1 (one) third gender.
There are a total of 4,973 service voters in Mizoram. First-time voters who are in the age group of 18-19 years stand at 50,611. The sex ratio of voters in Mizoram is 1,063. The electoral population (EP) ratio stands at 63.27.
The total number of polling stations is 1276, out of which 525 fall in urban areas and 751 in rural areas. As many as 2,058 votes have been cast through home voting and 7,497 votes through postal ballots at designated facilitation centers for the Mizoram Assembly elections.
The 40-member state assembly is the only poll-bound state where the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are not the primary contenders. In the 2018 assembly elections, the Mizo National Front (MNF) secured 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 percent and emerged victorious, defeating the 10-year-old Congress government.
The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), the regional party that surprisingly came in second in the 2018 polls, bagged eight seats. It is seen by many as the main contender for the ruling party.
The Congress bagged five seats in the 2018 assembly polls, while the BJP got one, securing its first seat in the north-eastern state. The MNF is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but it has not sought a pre-poll alliance with its partner in the state. The BJP is contesting 23 seats. In 2018, it contested in 39 constituencies.
Polling for the Mizoram Assembly began on November 7, the counting of which is scheduled on December 3. The voting began at 7 a.m. on November 7 and will continue till 3 p.m.
A total of 174 candidates are in the fray. According to the CEO Mizoram, the total number of electors in Mizoram stands at 8,51,895. Out of which 4,12,969 are male, 4,38,925 are women and one a third gender person. There are a total of 4,973 service voters in Mizoram.
(with inputs from ANI)
