Mizoram election results: Counting underway for 40 seats; ZPM leading
The counting of votes for the Mizoram Assembly elections began at 8:00am on Monday after polling for the 40-member assembly took place on November 7. The state is going to witness a high-profile two-way contest between Chief Minister Zoramthanga's Mizo National Front (MNF) and the opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). The ZPM is leading on 28 seats, and the MNF on eight seats. Exit poll results have predicted that the ZPM is set to oust the ruling MNF.
All you need to know about counting day in Mizoram
The vote counting is underway at 13 polling stations and 40 counting halls across Mizoram, per Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas's office. At these 40 counting halls, there will be 56 postal ballot tables and 399 EVM tables. To recall, over 80% of the 8.57 lakh eligible voters cast ballots to decide the fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women, in Mizoram last month.
Visuals from a counting center in Aizawl
EC earlier changed Mizoram vote counting date
Originally scheduled for Sunday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) moved vote counting in Mizoram to Monday. In a notification on Friday, the poll body cited "several representations from various quarters" received for the date change within the state as the reason behind the rescheduling. Vyas stated that the ECI agreed to the request because "Sunday was devoted to church duties and prayers" in the northeastern state.
Other results: BJP set to form government in 3 states
Separately, on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) marched to assembly election victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. While the Congress's performance in these three states was abysmal, the grand old party managed to dethrone the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government to secure Telangana. Moreover, the polling in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram has been viewed as a litmus test for parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Guaranteed hat-trick in 2024 Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi
Following the saffron brigade's assembly poll success in three states on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the BJP will secure a hat-trick in next year's Lok Sabha polls. Addressing the party workers at BJP headquarters in Delhi, he stated the mandate in the three states has proved that there was zero tolerance against appeasement, corruption, and dynastic politics. "Voter knows that when India moves ahead, then states move ahead. Every family in the country benefits from it," he added.
