Mizoram seats to watch out for: Mizoram is all set to witness an intense three-cornered electoral contest between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress. Elections to the 40-member Legislative Assembly will be held on November 7 and counting of dates will be on December 3.

Here are the key seats to watch out for:

Aizawl East – I Assembly Constituency –

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga is contesting from Aizawl East – I for the upcoming elections. He had won the seat in the 2018 Mizoram Assembly elections. The incumbent CM is pitted against Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) vice-president Lalthansanga. The Congress declared Lalsanglura Ralte, a first-timer, as its candidate against the CM from the Assembly constituency.

Aizawl West-III Assembly Constituency –

This constituency, which covers at least seven big localities, is all set to witness a three-cornered contest between the MNF, ZPM and the Congress. Mizoram Congress chief and former finance minister Lalsawta will be the candidate from Aizawl West-III seat. The 2023 Mizoram elections will be a litmus test for the Lalsawta, under whose leadership the Congress is trying to revive itself. He is pitted against incumbent ZPM legislator V L Zaithanzama and MNF’s K Sawmvela, who has served in the state’s Public Works Department, as well as technical advisor at the Chief Minister’s Office.

Serchhip Assembly Constituency –

This is one constituency which is the most talked about for the upcoming elections. ZPM leader and its chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma, who is the incumbent legislator, is pitted against MNF debutant and senior journalist J Malsawmzual Vanchhawng, who also is from the same constituency. Congress is also fielding R Vanlaltluanga, who originally hailed from Thenzawl within the Serchhip constituency. The constituency has been a Congress stronghold, except for the terms 1998-2003 and 2018-2023.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, Lalduhome had won the Serchhip seat ousting incumbent legislator and five-time Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. In 2020, he was disqualified under the anti-defection law, becoming the first legislator to have been disqualified under the law in the country. However, the move by MNF was severely criticised, due to which he had won the Assembly by-polls in the subsequent year by a huge margin.

Hachhek Assembly Constituency –

From the Hachhek Assembly constituency, incumbent legislator and Congress stalwart Lalrindika Ralte is pitted against sports minister Robert Romawia Royte, who shifted his constituency from Aizawl East-II. ZPM has fielded K J Lalbiakngheta, a first-timer, who hails from Zawlnuam, the biggest village in Hachhek constituency.

Hacchek is a constituency which is a Congress stronghold and the party has been in power in the constituency in the last three Assembly elections – 2008, 2013 and 2018. In the 2018 Mizoram Assembly elections, Ralte secured 33.32 per cent of votes, defeating his nearest opponent Lalrinenga Sailo of the MNF by a margin of 366 votes.

Also Read:

Mizoram Elections 2023: Full list of Mizo National Front Candidates

Mizoram Elections 2023: Full List of Aam Aadmi Party Candidates

Mizoram Elections 2023: Full list of Zoram People’s Movement Candidates

Mizoram Elections 2023:

Election to the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held on November 7 and counting of votes for all the five states will take place on December 3, which is Sunday. However, seven political parties, including the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and BJP, wrote to the ECI jointly on October 12 urging it to reschedule the counting day. As per the 2011 census, about 80 per cent of the population in Mizoram are Christians. For Mizoram Elections 2023, a total of 1,276 polling stations will be set up. There are 4,12,969 male electors, 4,38,925 female electors, 4,973 service electors and the total number of electors is 8,51,895, as per the electoral roll. There are 50,611 young voters and 8,490 senior citizen voters.