Mizoram polls: Congress wins 32 seats, MNF 5 and MPC 1

GUWAHATI: Congress has managed a consolation prize in the current round of assembly polls with a third consecutive win in Mizoram. Congress that leads the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre had suffered a huge setback losing the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi, when results were announced on Sunday.

Of the 40 assembly seats in Mizoram, Congress won 31 seats by evening. Opposition parties managed 7 seats while results to 2 were not available. In the last assembly elections in 2008, Congress had won 32 seats. BJP and NCP which put up candidates failed to win a single seat. Political analysts attributed the Congress sweep to the innovative land use policy, which created several livelihood options. A hurriedly cobbled up regional coalition comprising Mizoram Democratic Alliance, Mizo National Front (MNF) , Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), failed to impress voters.

The Congress legislature party will meet on Wednesday to elect Lal Thanhawla the chief minister for the fifth time. He was elected to the state assembly for a record ninth time. The chief minister won the Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats. In Serchhip, Lal Thanhawla won by 734 votes, defeating MNF rival Lalramzauva in a four cornered contest. In Hrangturzo, the chief minister defeated his MPC rival Lalthansanga by 1,638 votes. Thanhawla received 5,173 votes in a five cornered contest.

Bhupen Bora, AICC observer for Mizoram and Congress leader from Assam told ET, “People have voted Congress for development, peace and good governance. Congress government’s land policy in Mizoram has benefited a large number of people.

This election in Mizoram proved if party cadres and leaders work together it is difficult to defeat us.” State industries and tourism minister S Hiato, however, lost his Saiha seat to MNF nominee K Beichhua by 222 votes. Mizoram has a population of 10,91,014 and women voters outnumber men by 9,806 in a total of 6,90,860.