All eyes are
focused on the prominent candidates, who are making considerable efforts to
secure victory for their respective parties in the Mizoram Assembly elections,
as the Northeastern State gears up for the upcoming polls on Tuesday.
Mizo National
Front or MNF president and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga stands out as one
of the most prominent figures in this election. Having previously won Aizawl
East – I in the 2018 Assembly elections, Zoramthanga is once again contesting
from the same constituency.
The Zoram People’s
Movement or ZPM, positioning itself as the primary challenger in this election,
has nominated their party vice president, Lalthansanga, as a contender against
the three-time Chief Minister.
The Congress has
nominated Lalsanglura Ralte, a first-time candidate, to contest against the
Chief Minister.
Zoramthanga, who
was the second in command to MNF founder Laldenga, had earlier served as the
Chief Minister from 1998 to 2008 and from 2018 onwards after overthrowing the
10-year-old Congress Government in the State.
In the 2018 State Assembly
elections, he secured 42.9 per cent votes defeating Independent candidate K
Sapdanga (30 per cent votes) and Congress’ K Vanlalrawna (24.5 per cent votes).
ZPM chief
Lalduhoma, who is also the party’s chief ministerial candidate, will be
contesting from Serchhip, where he is the present MLA.
In 2018, Lalduhoma
secured 35.4 per cent votes, defeating the Congress’ Lal Thanhawla, which got
32.7 per cent votes.
Lalduhoma has been
pitted against MNF debutant J Malsawmzual Vanchhawng. The Congress has fielded
R Vanlaltluanga from Serchhip who had earlier contested the Assembly polls in
2013 unsuccessfully.
Lalduhoma, a
former IPS officer from Mizoram, was elected as a Lok Sabha MP in 1984. He is
the founder of the ZNP and was chosen as the first chief ministerial candidate
of the ZNP-led Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) coalition in the 2018 Assembly
polls.
Another key
contender in the Mizoram polls is State Congress chief Lalsawta, who will
contest from Aizawl West-III. Lalsawta is up against ZPM candidate VL
Zaithanzama and MNF candidate K Sawmvela.
Lalsawta won the State
elections in 2008 and 2013 from Aizawl East II. However, it lost its seat to
MNF’s Robert Romawia Royte in 2018. While MNF won the seat with 41.4 per cent
votes, Lalsawta remained restricted to only 26.9 per cent votes.
Lalsawta had been
the Finance Minister of Mizoram from 2008 to 2018. He was appointed the
president of the Pradesh Congress Committee in 2021, succeeding Lal Thanhawla,
the longest-serving Chief Minister of Mizoram.
The Bharatiya
Janata Party, which opened its account in the State Assembly polls in 2018 by
bagging one seat, has a key candidate in Vanlalhmuaka, the party’s State
president, who will be contesting the polls from Dampa constituency.
Mizoram Deputy
Chief Minister Tawnluia, who is also the MNF vice president, will be contesting
from Tuichang. Aged 80, Tawnluia is the oldest candidate in the fray. The
Deputy CM was the oldest candidate in the 2018 Assembly elections as well when
he contested from the same seat. Tawnluia will be challenged by ZPM’s W
Chhuanawma.
Vanlalhmuaka will
be contesting against Mizo National Front’s (MNF) Lalrintluanga Sailo, Congress’
Lalhmingthanga Sailo and ZPM’s Vanlalsailova. Vanlalhmuaka had earlier
contested from the Serlui constituency and finished fourth with 12.20 per cent
of votes behind MNF, Congress and independent candidates.
The Northeastern State
of Mizoram is undergoing polls on Tuesday, the counting of which is scheduled
on December 3. A total of 174 candidates are in the fray.
In the 2018 Assembly
elections, the Mizo National Front (MNF) secured 26 seats with a vote share of
37.8 per cent and emerged victorious, defeating the 10-year-old Congress Government.
The Zoram Peoples
Movement (ZPM), the regional party that surprisingly came in second in the 2018
polls, bagged eight seats. It is seen by many as the main contender for the
ruling party.
The Congress
bagged five seats in the 2018 Assembly polls, while the BJP got one, securing
its first seat in the Northeastern State.
ANI
