Mizoram Assembly Election 2023: Mizoram is all set to enter polls with voting scheduled to begin on all 40 Assembly seats of the state at 8 AM on Tuesday, November 7. Campaigning for the elections drew to a close on Sunday, two days ahead of the polls tomorrow. The stage is set for a triangular contest in the state between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Opposition Zoram People’s Party (ZPM) and the Congress.

A total of 174 candidates, including 18 women, are in the fray on the 40 seats of the Mizoram National Assembly. The elections follow months of disturbance in the neighbouring states of Manipur and Myanmar that the ruling MNF under Chief Minister Zoramthanga hopes to cash in on. The ZPM, however, is hopeful that its promise of fresh, corruption-free governance will reap rich dividends while the Congress claims that it is confident of bouncing back to power.

Also Read: Mizoram Election 2023: Candidates, Schedule, Constituencies to watch out for – All poll details here

In the Assembly elections held in 2018, the MNF secured 26 seats, Independents won 7 while the Congress bagged 5. In the elections this year, the MNF and the ZPM have fielded candidates on all 40 seats while the BJP is contesting 23. The BJP claims that it will play the role of a kingmaker as none of the parties in the state will be able to get an absolute majority.

Mizoram Elections 2023: Voting tomorrow

As many as 8.52 lakh voters will decide the fate of 174 candidates in the polling tomorrow. According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, Mizoram, there are 8,52,088 voters which include 4,13,064 males and 4,39,028 females who will cast their votes in 1,276 polling stations. There are 50,611 electors in the age group 18-19 who will exercise their franchise for the first time whereas there are 8,490 senior citizens above the age of 80.

Also Read: Mizoram Election 2023: MNF, ZPM, Congress Full List of Candidates

Tight security arrangements have been put in place for voting in the state which saw no incidents of any law and order problems since elections were announced. Nearly 50 companies of the CAPF have been deployed by the Election Commission with 30 booths identified as critical. Around 5,000 security personnel will be deployed in the state at polling stations.

(With Agencies)