Northeast Desk, 7th November: The fate of 174 candidates including 16 women candidates would be decided today as Mizoram the eastern state of India goes to polls today.
There will be single phase voting for the 40 seats of the 9th Mizoram Assembly.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga, from the Mizo National Front (MNF), seeks a fourth term, while the Congress, led by its new President Laisawta, is making a comeback bid after ruling for five terms. The BJP, an ally of the MNF, is also trying to increase its seat count, having won only one seat in the 2018 elections. Additionally, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), led by retired IPS officer Lalduhoma, aims to take power from the MNF and create history.
Voting begins at 7 AM and ends at 4 PM, with the counting of votes scheduled for December 3.
KEY CANDIDATES & CONSTITUENCIES
1. Aizawl East-I:
a. In Aizawl East-I, Chief Minister Zoramthanga is seeking re-election after winning the seat in 2018 polls. Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) Vice-President Lalthansanga while the Congress has fielded Lalsanglura Ralte.
2. SERCHHIP:
a. ZPM leader and chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma is contesting from the seat against MNF newcomer J Malsawmzual Vanchhawng and Congress Candidate R Vanlaltiuanga.
3. HACHHEK:
a. Hachhek, in Mamit district near the Tripura border, will likely see an intense battle between Congress MLA Lalrindika Ralte and current state Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte.
4 AIZAWL WEST III:
Aizawl West III is expected to witness a three-way fight between MNF, ZPM, and the Congress. ZPM MLA VL Zaithanzama will face off against Congress President Lalsawta and MNF candidate K Sawmvela.
5. TUICHANG:
Tawnlula is the current Deputy Chief Minister of Mizoram along with several portfolios including the Public Health Engineering Department, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department and Personnel and Administrative Reforms. He is also the vice president and one of the prominent leaders of the Mizo National Front (MNF) in the state. He has been representing the Tuichang Assembly constituency in the Mizoram Assembly since 2018. He is pitted against C Laihriatpula of Congress and W Chhuanawma of ZPM. He is five times MLA from tuichang, Khawzawl and Lokicherra constituencies. He joined the MNF in 1963 and was the former commander in chief of the disbanded Mizo National Army (MNA).
6. DAMPA:
a. Vanlalhmuaka, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BOP) Mizoram state president is contesting from Dampa. He is contesting the upcoming Mizoram Assembly Election from the Dampa constituency against Mizo National Front’s (MNF) Lairintiuanga Sailo, Lalhmingthanga Sailo of Congress and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) Vanlalsailova. In the 2018 Mizoram Assembly Election, he contested from the Serlul constituency and finished fourth with 12.20 per cent of votes behind MNF, Congress and independent candidates. He lost as an independent candidate from the same constituency in 2008 by securing just 11.28 per cent of votes Vanialhmuaka was the general secretary of the state BJP when he was unanimously declared elected as the party’s state unit president in 2020.
7. AIZAWL SOUTH-I (ST):
This constituency will see a contest between all the major parties including AAP. The INC has fielded Vanlalawmpull Chawngthu the only woman MLA in the history of Mizoram since statehood Chawngthu had won the seat upon winning a by-election in 2014. For a state that has a higher number of women voters than male voters it would be interesting to see how the women would fare, especially after the Women’s Reservation Bill was passed.
8. TUIVAWL:
The incumbent School Education and Labour, Employment Minister of the state, Lalchhandama Ralte, is contesting from this constituency where he had won with a margin of 3 votes in 2018. He is pitted against ZPM candidate JMS dawngliana, BJP’s K Changliana, and INC’s R. L Pianmawia. It was Planmawia who was ousted by Lalchhandama Ralte.
9. MAMIT:
Mamit will see a contest between two ex MNF Lairinliana Sallo, the Speaker of Mizaram, had resigned from the MNF upon being denied a ticket to contest. He joined the BP. He had earlier contested from the Chalfilh constituency. He shall be up against H Zorempula who was former MNF Joint Secretary but now represents ZPM. The MNF has fielded H. Lalzirana, the sitting MLA from Mamit against the ex party members.
FIVE CLOSELY FOUGHT CONSTITUENCIES IN THE 2018 MIZORAM ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
1 in Tulvawl, MNF candidate Lalchhandama Ralte defeated Congress candidate RL. Planmawia by a margin of 3 votes.
2. In Lunglei East, MNF candidate Lawmawma Tochhawng defeated independent candidate Lairinpull by a margin of 72 votes.
3. In Lunglei West. MNF candidate C Lalrinsanga defeated Congress candidate Chalrosanga Ralte by a margin of 77 votes.
4. In Aizawl South ii, independent candidate Lalchhuanthanga defeated MNF candidate Denghmingthanga by a margin of 179 votes.
5. In Tawl, MNF candidate R Latzirliana defeated independent candidate R Lalthatiuanga by a margin of 184 votes.
Here is the list of 16 women candidates contesting from 18 seats:
1. B. Lalawmpuill, MNF contesting from Aizawl East 11
2. Baryl Vanneihsangi of ZPM contesting from Aizawi South-ill
3. C. Lalrinmawii is contesting as an Independent form Tuikum
4. F Lalremsangi of BJP is contesting from Aizawl South-I
5. K Vanlalruati of BJP is contesting from Serchhip
6. Lalhmachhuani is contesting as an independent candidate from Aizawl East-ii
7. Lalhmunslami is contesting as an Independent from Tulchang
8. Lalhrilzeli Hlawndo is contesting as an Independent from Aizawl West-III, Aizawl East-I and Aizawl North-1
9. Lalramdinghgheti is contesting as an Independent from Mamit and Dampa
10. Lalrinpuil is contesting as an Independent from Aizawl North-11
11. Lalrinpuil of ZPM is contesting from Lunglei East
12. Meriam I Hrangchal of Congress is contesting from Lunglei South
13. Prova Chakma of MNF is contesting from West Tuipul
14. R Lalblaktluangi of BJP is contesting from Lundlei West
15. Vanlalawmpuil Chawngthu of Congress is contesting from Aizawl South-I
IMPORTANT FACTS AND FIGURES:
Electoral Roll Final Electoral Roll published on 4.10.2023
Male 413062
Female 439026
Total 857063
a. District with max electors: Aizawl (286816)
b. District with min electors: Hnahthial (16261)
c. Assembly Constituency with max electors: 36-Tulchawng (Lawngtlai)-36041
d. Assembly Constituency with min electors: 34- Thorang (Lunglei) – 14924
e. Females per 1000 males (2nd SSR): 1063
f. District with nore male than female voters: Mamit (Gender ratio- 980)
⚫ male 32723
⚫ female 32064
g Assembly Constituencies with more male than female electors:
1-Hachhek
2-Dampa
3-Mamit
8-Chalfilh
21-Lengteng
25-East Tuipul
34-Thorang
35-West Tuipui
36-Tuichawng
37-Lawngtlai West
h. Part/Polling Station with max electors: 13/24-Zemabawk VIII (1481 voters)
i. Part/Polling Station with min electors: 34/24 Thehlep (26 voters)
j.No. of Young Voters (btwn 18-19 yrs): 50751
k. No of Senior Citizen Voters (Age 80 & abv): 8486
l. PWDs in the Electoral Roll: 3381
male 1875
female 1506
m. No of Polling Stations: 1276
i. Urban-525
ii. Rural – 751
n. No of Polling Stations in 2018: 1164
i. Urban-450
ii. Rural – 714
o. Increase of Polling Stations: 112
1. Urban-75
ii. Rural – 37
Read More: Manipur Unrest: Video of Assam Rifles’ Daring Rescue of Ambushed State Police Commandos Goes Viral