Mizoram assembly elections 2018 Highlights: 80% turnout in Mizoram, slight dip from 83.41 % in 2013

Mizoram went to polls on Wednesday with 209 candidates in the fray for the 40-member legislative assembly. Voting began at 7 am and ended at 4 pm. The state recorded 80% voter turnout in a peaceful poll.Congress, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2008, is eyeing a third consecutive term in the state. While the direct contest is between the Congress and Mizo National Front, BJP, National People’s Party and Zoram People’s Movement could play crucial roles in the formation of the next government.Chief minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats — Serchhip and Champhai South. Here are the highlights:

9:46 pm IST

Mizoram recorded 80% voter turnout

In a peaceful poll, Mizoram recorded 80% voter turnout.

“Serchhip with 81% recorded the highest turnout among all eight districts, while Aizawl with 65% was the lowest,” said chief electoral officer Ashish Kundra.

The coter turnout was 83.41 per cent in 2013. In the 2008 assembly polls, it was 82.35 per cent, the poll panel said.

6:50 pm IST

3046 women managed polling booths in Mizoram: EC official

There were 3046 women managed polling booths in Mizoram, says EC official

6:48pm IST

75% turnout in Mizoram till 5 pm

75% turnout in Mizoram till 5 pm, reports ANI.

There were only 3 MCC violation cases that were reported.

5:00 pm IST

108-yr-old man turns up to vote

Rochhinga, aged 108, was considered to be the oldest voter in Mizoram as the election to the 40-member state Assembly ended peacefully on Wednesday.

4:48 pm IST

71% polling recorded till 4 pm

71% polling recorded in Mizoram till 4 pm.

Although polling closed as 4 pm those voters who are in queue at polling booths will be allowed to vote.

3:20 pm IST

58% voting in Mizoram till 3 pm

58% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in Mizoram according to the office of the chief electoral officer:

2:15 pm IST

Mizoram’s 108-year-old voter

108-year-old Upa Rochhinga casts his vote in Zemabawk North.

2:08 pm IST

106-year-old woman casts her vote in Kawrthah

106-year-old Darrokhumi cast her vote in Kawrthah. She was carried to the polling station in a wheelchair.

1:30 pm IST

49% polling till 1 pm

49% polling recorded in Mizoram till 1 pm, say election officials.

11:36 am IST

Faulty VVPATs delay voting in some booths

Voting in some booths delayed due to fault in 42 VVPATs, 19 control units and 25 ballot units.

11:26 am IST

All-women polling booths

Mizoram has one all-women polling booth in each of its 40 constituencies this time.

All-women polling station at Phuken under Chalfilh assembly constituency in Aizawl district. All 40 assembly seats have one all-women polling station in Mizoram this time

11:22 am IST

29% polling till 11 am

29 per cent polling reported in Mizoram till 11 am.

11:10 am IST

25% polling till 10 am

Around 25 per cent of the 7,68,181 voters cast their votes by 10 am, deputy additional chief electoral officer CC Lalchhuangkina told IANS over phone quoting reports from all eight districts.

10:30 am IST

Key candidates this time

As polling in Mizoram is underway, here’s a look at the key candidates:

10:20 am IST

How parties fared in 2013

As polling in Mizroram is underway, here’s a look at how the parties fared in 2013 assembly elections

9:40 am IST

Bru voters cast their votes under tight security

Bru voters queue up outside a polling booth at Kahnmun in Mizoram. ( Priyanka Deb Barman/HT Photo )

9:38 am IST

More visuals from Kahnmun

Bru voters queue up outside a polling booth at Kahnmun in Mizoram. ( Priyanka Deb Barman/HT Photo )

9:25 am IST

15% turnout till 9 am

15 per cent turnout reported till 9 am, according to Election Commission officials.

9:12 am IST

Rahul Gandhi appeals people to vote

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: Rahul Gandhi tweets

8:55 am IST

Visuals from Mizoram

Unlike many other states, provision is made for voters to sit outside polling booths while waiting for their turn to vote.

8:42 am IST

Amit Shah appeals people to vote

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

8:34 am IST

Visuals from Kahnmun

Elderly Bru voter shows her inked finger after casting her vote at Kahnmun.

8:28 am IST

Visuals from a polling booth in Kanhmun

8:26 am IST

Visuals from Zarkawt-II, Aizawl

8:24 am IST

Polling peaceful so far

Bru voters queue up outside a polling booth.

8:15 am IST

Visuals from Mizoram

An elderly voter goes through an instruction poster at a polling station in Mizoram before casting his vote.

8:12 am IST

PM Modi urges voters to turn out in large numbers

I request my sisters and brothers of Mizoram, particularly the dynamic youth of the state, to turn out in large numbers and vote: PM Narendra Modi

7:40 am IST

Bru voters make their way to polling station

Bru voters cross the bridge to Kanhmun.

7:32 am IST

BJP appeals people to vote

7:00 am IST

Visuals from Mizoram

6:40 am IST

Anti-incumbency not a factor: CM Lal Thanhawla

Congress veteran and chief minister Lal Thanhawla, who has been at the helm since 2008, is confident that the grand old party will become the first to win three elections in a row in Mizoram.

“There’s no anti-incumbency wind, not to speak of wave. We are quite confident of retaining power,” said Lal Thanhawla, who is the only Congress chief minister at present to also head the party’s state unit.

In the 2013 polls, Congress came to power by winning 34 of the 40 seats in the assembly. But in recent months, five of those legislators , including party vice-president and home minister R Lalzirliana, have left the party to join rivals.

6:25 am IST

BJP in centre, state will take Mizoram to new heights: PM Modi

While campaigning in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of corruption and nepotism and assured fast-paced development if BJP is voted to power.

Modi accused the Congress of spreading fear to protect its state governments which are mired in corruption and nepotism and urged voters to get rid of the party.

6:17am IST

BJP looks to uproot Congress from last bastion in northeast

Mizoram, which has a population of about 10 lakh, is significant for the BJP that considers it to be the ‘final frontier’ in the region. The party has been contesting polls in Mizoram since 1993, but has failed to win any seat in the state.

The Congress and the MNF have ruled Mizoram since 1987 when it became a full-fledged state. Interestingly, no party has been able to form government thrice since that year.

Read: BJP has never recorded a win in Mizoram but it’s a poll issue this time

6:15 am IST

High-octane battle expected between Congress, MNF

The Congress and the MNF are contesting for all 40 seats while BJP has put up candidates for 39 and ZPM contesting for 35 seats. The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPN) is an alliance formed by two political parties and four groups.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla who is contesting for both the Serchhip and Champhai South seats is among nine candidates who have filed nominations from multiple seats.

6:05 am IST

How Mizoram voted in 2013

In the 2013 elections, the Congress had won 34 seats, while its main opposition, the Mizo National Front (MNF), got five and the Mizoram People’s Conference bagged one seat.

See vote share of parties in 2013 Mizoram election

5:55 am IST

Bru refugees living in Tripura to vote in inter-state village

The Brus are a scheduled tribe who had fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes. Efforts to repatriate them to Mizoram have failed. They can cast their ballots at Kanhmun village in the Mamit district of Mizoram, located close to the border with Tripura. Opposition to a proposal to allow them to vote in Tripura by political parties and organizations in Assam, led the Election Commission to set up a polling station at Mamit to ensure they cast their votes in Mizoram.

The issue also led to the removal of a Mizo IAS officer from his post and the subsequent transfer of chief electoral officer SB Shashank.

5:50 am IST

209 candidates, over 7.7 lakh voters

A total of 209 candidates are in fray for the November 28 polls 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.

Read: Women’s big fight for political space in Mizoram