Mizoram had gone for polling in a single phase on November 28. The tenure of this Assembly will end on December 15, 2018. A political party needs to win 21 seats to secure a simple majority.
The voter turnout in Mizoram was recorded at around 80 percent, against what was 83.41 percent in 2013. The single-phase voting happened after weeks of campaigning by state-level leaders from both sides and national level leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
The Indian National Congress has been in power in the state since 2008. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is hoping two win a third consecutive term. Congress is being challenged by the main opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a limited presence in the North Eastern state and is hoping to open win a seat for the first time there.
Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and Zoram Peoples' Movement (ZPM) are two of the other key parties challenging the Congress. Mizoram is the last North Eastern state to have a Congress government.
MNF’s charge is being led by former chief minister Zoramthanga.
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Aizawl: A delegation of Mizo National Front (MNF) led by its President Zoramthanga met Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan after the party won 26 seats in the state Assembly polls. #MizoramElections2018 pic.twitter.com/hUe1oL2TzS
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018
MNF President Zoramthangahas reached the Governor'sresidence to stake claim to form the government.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has submitted his resignation to the Governor K Rajasekharan, according to PTI.
We will not have any coalition government either with BJP or any other way because my party can form the government on its own. We have got 26 seats out of 40. We're a part of NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) and NDA, but we wouldn't like to join Congress or UPA.
With six seats yet to be declared, the Mizo National Front has won 23 seats and is leading in three. It has a vote share of 37.6%.
The Congress has won five constituencies, down from the 34 seats it had won in the 2013 elections.
Nine seats are left to be declared – the Mizo National Front is leading six of them and independent candidates are ahead in three.
The only seat the BJP won was Tuichawng, where BD Chakma defeated RM Chakma of the MNF. This is the first time the BJP will have a member in the Mizoram Assembly. BD Chakma was a minister in the Congress government before he switched to the BJP.
The Mizo National Front candidate Lalchhandama Ralte is leading Congress’ RL Pianmawia in Tuivawl seat by just three votes. Ralte has 5,207 votes.
Zoramthanga, the MNF’s chief ministerial candidate, is ahead in Aizawl East I by 1,474 votes. Trailing him is independent candidate K Sapdanga.
The Mizo National Front is leading in nine constituencies. It has already won 16.
