AIZAWL: Mizoram concluded its state assembly elections on Tuesday as voters exercised their franchise to elect representatives for 40 seats in the state assembly.
According to data from the Election Commission, by 3 pm, 70% of eligible voters had cast their votes in the state.
According to certain media houses, with just an hour left for the polling to end, long queues of voters were seen in several polling booths after 3 pm, indicating an expected surge in the voting percentage later in the evening.
Among the 11 districts, Serchhip recorded the highest polling percentage at 77.78%, followed by Khawzawl and Tuichang at 77.12% and Hnahthial at 74.96% by 3 pm, reported a national news agency.
The lowest turnout was recorded in Siaha at 52.02%, with Aizawl district at 65.06% and Saitual at 68.08%, posting lower voting percentages.
Over 8.57 lakh voters, including 4.39 lakh women, were eligible to cast their votes to decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates.
Mizoram’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer, H Lianzela, told the press that polling was “peaceful, and there have been no law-and-order issues”.
The polling, which began at 7 am, saw people of from all walks of life coming out and exercising their franchise.
However, technical glitches in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were reported at one polling station in Aizawl, where Chief Minister Zoramthanga went to vote.
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The CM returned later in the morning to cast his vote after EVM issues were resolved.
Of the 1,276 polling stations across Mizoram, 149 are remote voting centres, with 30 located along the inter-state and international borders being declared as critical and vulnerable.
The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the main opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), and the Congress fielded candidates in all 40 seats.
The BJP contested 23 constituencies, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominated candidates in four assembly segments. Additionally, there were 27 independent candidates.
Vote counting is scheduled for December 3. In the previous assembly elections in 2018, the state recorded a voter turnout of 81.61%.
