The Opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has crossed the halfway mark and leads in 28 seats. The Election Commission has declared the victory of ZPM’s W. Chhuanawma in Tuichang seat.
Chhuanawma defeated Deputy Chief Minister and Mizo National Front candidate Tawnluia by a margin of 909 votes, 6,988 votes were totally polled during the elections here. ZPM has crossed the halfway mark of 21 seats in the 40-member assembly. At 10.30am, the Bharatiya Janata Party leads in three seats and Congress only in one seat.
The counting of votes polled in the assembly elections in Mizoram began at 8 am on Monday amid tight security. Additional Chief Electoral Officer H. Lianzela told PTI that the counting was being held in 13 centres across the state.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga is trailing in the Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM's Lalthansanga. The ZPM candidate is leading by a margin of 640 votes. More than 4,000 personnel are involved in the counting process. In all, there are 399 tables for the EVMs and 56 for the counting of postal ballots.
Polling was held on November 7, and over 80 per cent of the state's 8.57 lakh voters exercised their franchise. A total of 174 candidates, including 18 women, were in the fray.
The MNF, ZPM and Congress contested 40 seats each, while the BJP fielded candidates in 23 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which contested the assembly polls here for the first time, fought in four seats. Also, there were 17 Independent candidates.
-with PTI inputs.
