Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga was unable to cast his vote as the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at Ramhlun Venglai Primary School polling station was malfunctioned.
“Because the machine was not working, I was waiting for sometime. But since the machine did not work, I said that I will visit my constituency and I will vote after the morning meet,” Zoramthanga, who is also the supremo of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), said.
Later, Zoramthanga successfully cast his vote at 9:40 am in his second visit to the polling station.
“The Chief Minister had, in the morning, gone to Ramhlun Venglai Primary School polling station, but the EVM was not working at that time. So, he went back home and came again at 9:40 am to exercise his franchise,” Mizoram Additional Chief Electoral Officer H. Lianzela said.
Zoramthanga is seeking re-election from Aizawl North-II assembly constituency.
Voting for elections to the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly began at 7 am on Tuesday, amid tight security arrangements. The votes polled will be counted on December 3.
Zoramthanga is optimistic of his MNF retaining power in Mizoram due to the “good performance” and the initiative for ‘Zo unification’ after the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3 made more than 11,000 Kuki-Zomi people take refuge in Mizoram.
“There will not be a hung Assembly in Mizoram and MNF will form the government. We hope that we will be able to get more than that, maybe 25 or more. I believe that we will have a comfortable majority,” Zoramthanga confidently said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to electorates in Mizoram to come out and vote in record numbers.
“I call upon the people of Mizoram to vote in record numbers. I particularly urge the young and first time voters to exercise their franchise and strengthen the festival of democracy,” Modi wrote on X.
In the 2023 elections, the ruling MNF, the main opposition party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and Congress have fielded candidates for all 40 seats.
While BJP and Aam Aadmi Party have fielded 23 and 4 candidates, respectively, in addition to 27 independents already in the fray.
