The voting for Assembly elections to Mizoram and Chhattisgarh phase 1 began on Tuesday morning amid tight security. The elections are considered significant for both the BJP and Opposition parties, considering the Lok Sabha polls slated to be held in 2024.
In Mizoram, over 174 candidates are in the fray. Over 8.57 lakh voters, including 4.39 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise.
The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and Congress have fielded candidates in all the seats. The BJP is contesting in 23 constituencies, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated candidates in four assembly segments. There are also 27 independent candidates.
The MNF is led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who hopes to retain power in the northeastern state. Though the chief minister reached the polling booth early on Tuesday, he couldn't cast the vote due to a technical snag with the machine. "Because the machine was not working, I said that I would visit my constituency and vote after the morning meet," Zoramthanga told reporters.
The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) has positioned itself as the primary challenger to MNF. The ZPM is led by the party vice president and chief minister face Lalthansan. The Congress and the BJP are also in the fray.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the MNF secured 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent and emerged victorious. ZPM surprisingly came in second in the 2018 polls, bagging eight seats. Congress won four and was routed out of power while the BJP ended up with one seat.
#WATCH | Mizoram elections | Voters arrive at polling station 27 in Mission Vengthlang in large numbers to cast their vote. pic.twitter.com/xOaNcuwFef
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
High security is in place in Mizoram, considering its international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. As many as 30 booths along the international borders have been declared critical and vulnerable and over 7,200 personnel deployed across the state to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections, the officials said.
The 510-km-long international border with Myanmar and the 318-km boundary with Bangladesh have been sealed ahead of the polling of assembly constituencies.
Chhattisgarh
High security is in place in Chhattisgarh too, including in the Naxalite-hit Bastar division. The first phase of the elections is held for 20 out of the total 90 Assembly seats. A total of 23 candidates, including 25 women, are in the fray.
#WATCH | An elderly man leaves after casting his vote for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023; voters standing in a queue outside a polling booth in Bhanpuri Assembly Constituency Election to cast their votes. pic.twitter.com/jKPLDWI09i
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2023
Polling began at 7 a.m. in 10 of the 20 assembly constituencies where elections are being held in the first phase. These include Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta. It will end at 3 pm.
Polling in the remaining 10 seats, including Pandaria, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakote, will commence at 8 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m.
The Congress, led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel hopes to retain power in the state. The BJP, led by former chief minister Dr. Raman Singh, hopes to wrest back power.
Women voters outnumber men in seats covered under the first phase of polling. As many as 20,84,675 female voters are on the rolls while the number of male voters is 19,93,937. There are 69 third-gender voters as well. As many as 5,304 election booths have been set up for the first phase and 25,249 polling personnel have been deployed.
Bastar
There is tight security in place with 60,000 security personnel deployed in the area. Bastar division has 12 assembly segments, police said. Over 149 polling stations in five assembly constituencies of the Bastar division have been shifted to the nearest police station and security camps due to security threats. Naxal activities are being monitored through drones and helicopters, while bomb disposal teams and dog squads will be roped in as and when required, according to the police.
