Mizoram assembly poll campaign ends: all you need to know about Nov 7 vote

Campaigning for the November 7 Mizoram assembly elections ended at 4pm on Sunday with no reports of any law and order problems throughout the month-long period, additional chief electoral officer H Lianzela said.

He asserted that any form of electioneering, public meetings, press conferences by political parties, interviews and panel discussions in the media have been strictly prohibited till voting is over.

Out of the 1,276 voting centres in the state, 149 are remote polling stations, Lianzela said, adding around 30 polling stations along the inter-state and international borders have been declared critical and vulnerable.

Security has been tightened across the state and along international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, a police officer said. Mizoram shares a 510km porous border with Myanmar and a 318km border with Bangladesh.

At least 3,000 policemen and 5,400 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed for the polls, the officer added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju visited the state and campaigned for BJP candidates.

BJP state president Vanlalhmuaka said the party will win 6-8 seats.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor campaigned for party candidates.

During campaigning, ruling party MNF tried to capitalise on issue of refugees and internally displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur and Mizo sub-nationalism besides highlighting the development in the state over the last five years despite financial constraints triggered by the pandemic.

The opposition highlighted the failure of the MNF government in fulfilling its promises, including implementation of the flagship programme, Socio Economic Development (SEDP), construction of flyovers, good roads, among others.

The ZPM banked on its policy of change and introduction of a new system of governance.

More than 8.57 lakh electorates, including 4,39,026 women, will decide the fate of 174 candidates. Results are scheduled to be announced on December 3.