Mizoram polls: 174 candidates in fray

Aizawl, Oct 23 (PTI) A total of 174 candidates are in the fray for the Mizoram assembly polls scheduled for November 7, a senior official said on Monday.

The nominees represent five political parties, and 27 are independents, he said.

Mizoram Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Lianzela said that none of the 174 candidates, including 16 women, who cleared scrutiny earlier, had withdrawn their candidature on the last day of the process on Monday.

The number of contesting candidates this time is 35 less than the figure in 2018.

Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.

A total of 8,56,868 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections.

On Saturday, scrutiny of nominations was conducted and 173 candidates cleared the process. The nomination paper of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) candidate Lorrain Lalpeklian Chinzah from Lawngtlai East assembly was accepted after being rescrutinised on Sunday.

Lorrain's paper had discrepancies as one of his 10 witnesses did not add his signature.

The ruling Mizo National Front, main opposition ZPM and the Congress have fielded 40 nominees each.

The MNF has fielded 25 incumbent legislators, while six sitting MLAs are among the ZPM candidates.

The BJP, which contested in 39 seats in the 2018 polls and won one, has nominated 23 candidates this time, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), making its electoral debut in Mizoram, is contesting in four seats.

Earlier, political parties, churches, NGOs and student bodies in Christian-majority Mizoram had urged the Election Commission to reschedule the counting date as it is on Sunday, when church services are held across the state.

The poll panel is yet to respond to the plea. PTI CORR RBT