New Delhi:
Polling in the 40-member Legislative Assembly of Mizoram began at 7 am on Wednesday and will end at 4 pm and voters will decide the fate of 209 candidates. Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats — Serchhip and Champhai South. A total of 209 candidates are in fray and the fate of the candidates would be decided by 7,70,395 voters, which include 3,94,897 women. This poll is expected to see voting by nearly 11,000 Bru voters, living in six relief camps in Tripura.
Altogether, 47 of 1,179 polling booths have been classified as ‘critical’ and as many as ‘vulnerable’ by the Election Commission. The election office sources said 40 companies of the central armed police force in addition to the state police force have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Each constituency has one polling booth exclusively for women voters, manned by women polling and security personnel. These booths have been named after a flower called ‘Dingdi’.
While the Congress and Mizo National Front are in a direct contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National People’s Party and Zoram People’s Movement could play crucial roles in the next government formation.
Here are the LIVE updates:
Around 73% votes were cast in the Mizoram assembly polls on Wednesday but the figure is expected to rise as there were long queues of voters outside polling booths to exercise their franchise, Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said.
Mizoram has one all-women polling booth in each of its 40 constituencies this time.
"Conducive situation and favourable weather helped the people to exercise their franchise smoothly," said CC Lalchhuangkina, deputy additional chief electoral officer.
My appeal to the voters of Mizoram:
Your vote is not just your constitutional right, it is a blessing & a weapon. Use it wisely today!
Vote for peace, prosperity and progress.
My best wishes and warmest regards to all my brothers & sisters in #Mizoram pic.twitter.com/s7MgSGwPgW
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 28, 2018
As voting in Mizoram begins, I appeal all my sisters and brothers of state to turn out in record numbers and vote. Your one vote will lay the foundation of a prosperous and corruption free Mizoram: Amit Shah
15% voting recorded in Mizoram till 9 am, according to ANI.
An elderly woman after casting her vote at a polling station in Kanhmun #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/95FxeIAyVb
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Voting underway in Mizoram, visuals of people queuing up to vote at a polling station in Kanhmun #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/VykFjNTYEm
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Polling underway in Mizoram, visuals of voters in Zarkawt-II, Aizawl #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/Ji45y7B2XE
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018
Mizoram: Visuals from a polling station in Zarkawt, Aizawl. Polling for the 40 constituencies in the state will begin at 7 am. #MizoramElections pic.twitter.com/BnKJsWf36E
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018