Mizoram Polls: Campaigning Ends, Polling to Be Held On 28 Nov
Follow our entire coverage of the state’s polls here.
The Election Commission on 15 November replaced Mizoram's Chief Electoral Officer S.B. Shashank after local groups demanded his removal and appointed Ashish Kundra
Meanwhile, Mizoram is gearing up for elections for its 40-member Assembly, which is set to be conducted in a single phase on 28 November.
The upcoming polls will be a big test for the Congress, as Mizoram is still the only state that’s not governed by the BJP, among the eight states that make up the Northeast.
Other than the BJP and the Congress, which under Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, is reaching the fag end of its second term, the Mizo National Front (MNF) is the third major contender to the seats. The results of the election will be declared on 11 December.
Follow our entire coverage of the state’s polls here.
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All You Need to Know About the Upcoming Polls
Although the BJP have managed to gain a stronghold in seven out of the eight states making up Northeast India, its presence isn’t as dynamic in Mizoram, where the ruling Congress party under Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and the Mizo National Front (MNF) are the two main contenders.
In 2008, the Congress won 32 out of the 40 seats with a 39 percent vote share, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) clinched only three seats with a 31 percent vote share, according to the Election Commission of India. The BJP, too, had contested nine seats, but didn’t win any seat, securing only a 0.5 percent vote share.
In 2013, the Congress’ seat count and vote share both increased by 34 and 45 percent respectively, while the MNF won five seats, but saw its vote share decline to 29 percent. The BJP again had contested for 17 seats, but had not secured even one. With that, the party’s vote-share also declined to 0.4 percent.
With factors such as dynastic politics, anti-incumbency, corruption charges and the Bru refugee crisis plaguing the state, the elections will test the might of all three parties.
EC Identifies 32 Polling Booths in Mizoram as "Critical"
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has identified 32 polling stations in Mizoram as 'critical' and 38 'vulnerable locations', the state's Joint Chief Electoral Officer Zorammuana said on Sunday.
The state will have a total of 1,164 polling stations for the November 28 Assembly polls.
Along with the state armed police, 40 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would also be deployed in critical polling stations and also in those at vulnerable locations, Zorammuana told PTI.
Election Commission Asks for Names for Post of Mizoram CEC
The Election Commission has asked for two more panel names for the post of Mizoram Chief Election Officer from the state government. Three names were sent by the Chief Secretary. No decision has been taken on removal of SB Shashank yet.
According to what sources told The New Indian Express, the state’s Congress government had suggested names of three IAS officers to replace Shashank – H Lalengmawia, K Lalthawmmawia and Lalhmingthanga.
76% Gun Owners Deposit Weapons Ahead of Polls
About 76 percent of gun holders containing a license, have deposited their arms to the police in Mizoram ahead of the state’s assembly elections, which are to be conducted in a single phase on 28 November, Firstpost reported.
LH Shanliana, the Inspector General of Police, said that this percentage worked up to about 10,337 licensed gun owners, who deposited their firearms in various police stations across Mizoram, the report added.
Nominations of All 204 Candidates Accepted: Poll Officer
Nomination papers of all 204 candidates for the election to the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly on 28 November, were found to be in order and accepted on Tuesday, 13 November, state election department officials told PTI.
Poll Panel Team In Mizoram To Check Stand-off Ahead Of Elections
Earlier on Friday, 9 November, a high-level Election Commission team had held a series of meetings, including with the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (MNCC), which has been spearheading a state-wide protest calling for removal of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and reinstatement of the ousted Principal Secretary (Home).
"The EC team headed by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain, immediately after their arrival in Aizawl on Friday afternoon, started holding meetings with various groups and Church leaders. The EC officials first held meetings with the leaders of MNCC and also with the state government and election department officials," an official of the Mizoram Election Department said.
(Source: PTI)
Counter Affidavit Filed Against CM Lal Thanhawla, 27 Others by PRISM
Earlier on Saturday, 10 November, the People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) said that the party had filed counter affidavits against 28 candidates in the upcoming polls.
These included Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, ZPM chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma and MNF nominee C Lalramzauva, who according to a release by the party, had tried to “conceal facts”, The New Indian Express reported.
Chief Electoral Officer of Mizoram Replaced Ahead of State Polls
The Election Commission on Thursday replaced Mizoram's Chief Electoral Officer S.B. Shashank after local groups demanded his removal and appointed Ashish Kundra, a 1996 batch IAS officer, as the new CEO ahead of the 28 November elections.
It also directed that Shashank be attached with the Election Commission "with immediate effect and until further orders".
The order came after a high-level Election Commission team held meetings last week, including with the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (MNCC), which had been spearheading the state-wide protests for Shashank's removal and reinstatement of the ousted Principal Secretary (Home).
209 Candidates Contesting Elections
A total 209 candidates will be contesting the upcoming 40-member state assembly elections, that will be held on 28 November.
Out of these, the Congress will field 40 candidates while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mizo National Front (MNF), will be contesting in 39 and 40 assembly seats respectively, ANI reported.
Only 15 Women Candidates to Contest Elections
Only 15 candidates out of the over 200 in fray for the Mizoram Assembly elections are women, even as the state has more female voters as compared to male. The BJP, which has never won a seat in the state, has fielded the highest number of six women candidates.
(PTI)
Liquor Ban is a Poll Issue For All Parties
There are promises that are made in a poll season and most of them remain promises, but in the election season of this small hill state, all major political parties say they are serious when it comes to liquor -- whether to ban it or not, and whether to ban it fully or partially.
While the ruling Congress is against total prohibition, the main opposition MNF wants a complete ban. The BJP has taken a middle path by proposing to ban the liquor coming from outside the state and encourage only locally produced ones.
(PTI)
'BJP, RSS Know They Will Not Win Next LS Polls': Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that the RSS and the BJP "know it very well" that the saffron party will not win the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Addressing his first election rally at Champhai in Mizoram, he also accused the BJP and RSS of trying to destroy the culture of the state.
"The RSS and the BJP understand that this is the only opportunity for them to enter Mizoram and destroy its culture. They know that they are unlikely to win the next (Lok Sabha) elections," Gandhi said at a public rally at Champhai.
Conrad Sangma to Address Election Rally, Seek Support for NPP Candidate
Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, is set to visit Mizoram’s Vairengte on Wednesday, 21 November, to address an election rally, seeking support for NPP’s candidate for the upcoming polls.
PM Modi to Address Public Meeting at Lunglei Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the town of Lungeli in Mizoram on Friday, 23 November, to address a public meeting ahead of the voting for the polls which will commence on 28 November.
Campaigning Ends, Polling to Be Held On 28 Nov
Campaigning for elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly ended at 4 pm on Monday, 26 November, setting the stage for polling on Wednesday, 28 November, when 7,70,395 people are expected to cast their votes in this northeastern state.
The election machinery is fully prepared to conduct free and fair polls, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra said. Speaking to reporters here, Kundra said he was "perfectly satisfied" with the arrangements.
Mizoram is the last bastion of the Congress in the northeast. The Congress has been in power in the state since 2008 and is eyeing a third consecutive term.
(Source: PTI)