Tough challenge for Mizo National Front as Mizoram elections to get underway on Tuesday

Aizawl (Mizoram) [India], November 6 (ANI): With just hours to go until the people of Mizoram exercise their right to vote in the Assembly elections in the state, here is a look at the key Constituencies and the prominent leaders in the state.

The main political parties in Mizoram are the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the Congress, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

1. Aizawl East-I Aizawl East-1 has been considered as the most important seat in the state. Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who is also the Chief of the Mizo National Front (MNF) will be contesting on this seat. In 2018 Assembly elections, Zoramthanga defeated the independent candidate. He had also represented the Champhai constituency multiple times. Zoramthanga is up against Lalsanglura Ralte of the Congress and Lalthansanga of the ZPM. Zoramthanga had been the CM of the state twice earlier in 1998 and in 2003.
   
2. Aizawl West-III The Aizawl West-III seat will witness a triangular fight between the MNF, ZPM and the Congress. Congress has fielded Lalswata from this seat who is also the current president of the party’s Mizoram state unit. Lalsawta was also the Mizoram’s Finance Minister from 2008 to 2018. He had also represented the Aizawl East-II constituency in 2008 and 2013.
   
3. Serchhip Lalduhoma is the leader of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) who will be again contesting the upcoming Mizoram Assembly Election from the Serchhip constituency. In the 2018 Mizoram Assembly Election, He also won from the Aizawl West-1 but he chose to represent Serchhip and became the Leader of Opposition. Lalduhoma is a former IPS officer who was also part of the security of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. After resigning from service he was elected as an MP from Mizoram in 1984. Lalduhoma of ZPM had previously ousted five-time chief minister Lal Thanhawla from this seat in 2018.
   
4. Dampa Dampa will be the important seat for the saffron party, the BJP. Vanlalhmuaka who is the party’s state unit president is contesting from this seat. In 2018 assembly elections in the state, BJP was able to win only one seat. This time the saffron party will be hoping to improve its numbers from the last time. Union minister Kiren Rijiju is the party’s election in-charge for Mizoram,
   
5. Tuichang Mizoram’s Deputy chief minister, Tawnluia who has other several portfolios under his belt, will be contesting from the Tuichang seat. In 2018, he won from this seat by defeating independent candidate. He is also the vice president and one of the prominent leaders of the Mizo National Front (MNF) in the state. The voting will take place in Mizoram on November 7. Unemployment and drugs will be the key issues in the election. The violence in Manipur is also likely to have an effect on the Mizoram elections. The Mizos are seen as kindred tribes of the Kukis, one of the tribes in Manipur. The BJP is contesting on 23 seats in the 40-member assembly. In 2018, it had contested in 39 constituencies and won one seat, opening its account for the first time in the state assembly. More than 8.52 lakh voters will decide the fate of 174 candidates in Mizoram.According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, Mizoram, 8,52,088 voters including 4,13,064 male and 4,39,028 female voters will exercise their franchise in 1276 polling stations. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mizoram, out of 1276 polling stations across the state, 30 polling stations have been identified as critical. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is fighting to retain power while the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), BJP, and Congress will attempt to dethrone the incumbent government. In a 40-member Mizoram assembly, the Mizo National Front bagged 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent to emerge victorious in the 2018 polls. The Congress secured five seats and the BJP won one seat.