Monday, December 08, 2008

Mizoram Starts Count Down to Judgment Day

Aizawl, Dec 7 : With only hours left for the counting of votes, the three major political parties in Mizoram are on tenterhooks. Meanwhile, all the counting centres in the eight district capitals have been ready for counting of votes which will be begin from 0800 hours on Monday next.

The results of the 40 constituencies are expected to be out by 1400 hours on the day, joint Chief Electoral Officer Lianhmingthanga said.

This time, the people, particularly Aizawl residents, will be able to get the latest updates of results right from their homes.

The cable TV operators in the city have installed their equipment inside the counting hall here, election officials said.

Results of the other seven districts would be announced on a public address system from the information & public relations directorate within the vicinity of the Aizawl district counting hall.

Of the total 6,11,124 voters across the state, 4,87,526 exercised their franchise on December 2, making the poll percentage a whooping 80.11. According to some political analysts, the high percentage of poll turnout indicated a strong anti-incumbency factor. This only indicates that the ruling 24-legislators strong Zoramthanga (Mizo National Front) is heading for a waterloo, he added.

However, Zoramthanga, who is contesting from Champhai North and Champhai South constituencies near the Indo-Myanmar border, is confident of retaining power for the third consecutive term.

” My party carried out developments during the last ten years which no ministry had ever done. For this, we have the people’s trust,” he said.

The other two CM hopefuls, Lal Thanhawla (of Pradesh Congress) and Brig T Sailo (of the United Democratic Alliance), are equally hopeful of coming back to power because of anti-incumbency against the corrupt MNF.

Both had been the chief ministers of Mizoram from 1984-1998 and 1978-1984 respectively.

While Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats, his traditional Serchhip and South Tuipui, the 86-year-old retired Brigadier is contesting from only one seat, Aizawl West-II. In case Sailo fails to get elected, any MLA-elect of his party would resign to ensure T Sailo’s election through bypolls, the UDA had said.

Mizoram has witnessed a role-model low-key elections– thanks to the voluntary election watchdog Mizoram People’s Forum– instituted by the influential Mizoram Presbyterian Church.

The Mizoram elections have impressed the Election Commission of India officials.

This was the sixth Assembly elections in Mizoram after it attained statehood in 1987. Congress had won 20 of the 30 Assembly seats in 1984 when Mizoram was still a union territory and Lal Thanhawla became the chief minister. Thanhawla stepped down following the Mizo Peace Accord between Mizo National Front and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to make room for MNF president Laldenga.

In 1989 Congress won the Assembly polls. Five years later Congress recaptured power but as a partner of Brigadier T Sailo led Mizo Janata Dal. Congress was defeated in 1998 by Zoramthanga-led MNF and its ally Mizoram Peoples Conference.

The MNF continued to retain power single-handedly in the 2003 elections. (UNI)

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