Mizoram: ZPM, MNF unveil candidates for Nov 5 SHC elections

Aizawl: Ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and Hmar People's Convention (HPC) on Monday released the names of their candidates for the upcoming elections to 12-member Silung Hills Council (SHC) in Mizoram scheduled to be held on November 5.

Congress will release the names of party candidates on Tuesday, while BJP is also likely to contest the council polls, party leaders said.

Earlier, the ZPM and HPC had forged a pre-poll alliance as per which the former will contest in 8 and the latter in the remaining 4 seats. 

The MNF has also tied up with Hmar People's Convention (Reformed) or HPC (R) and the MNF will contest in 10 seats and HPC (R) in 2 seats 

ZPM has fielded three new faces as per the list announced by party vice president and MLA W. Chhuanawma in a function held at the party office here.

Sitting Chief Executive Member (CEM) Lalvenhima Hmar of ZPM will lock horns against Vanlaltluangliana of MNF from his home turf Suangpuilawn seat, while incumbent council chairman HC Lalmalsawma (ZPM) is also trying his luck for the second time from Zohmun constituency.

Incumbent executive member Vanlalsiamsanga (ZPM) is tipped against MNF nominee Lord Joyfula from the Phuaibuang seat, while Lalrawngbawla Pulamte, also a sitting executive member from ZPM, will try his second luck from the Saipum constituency.

Of the four HCP candidates, two are debutants.

Sitting executive members Lalremruata Varte and K. Hrangkunga, both from HPC, seek their consecutive term from their home turf Sakawrdai South and Khawlian constituencies respectively.

The MNF and HPC(R) also nominated 12 candidates and 9 of them are newbies.

Polling for the SHC will be held on November 5 in which 23,789 voters, including 11,914 female voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise. 

The last date for filing nomination papers is October 10, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is fixed on October 14, according to the state election commission.

It said that the scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on October 11.

Counting of votes will be undertaken as soon as voting is over and all ballot boxes reach constituency headquarters on November 5, the commission said.

The SHC has 12 constituencies, comprising 31 villages in the Hmar-dominated northeastern part of Mizoram, covering three assembly constituencies in the Aizawl, Kolasib and Saitual districts.

In the last council polls held on 5 November 2019, the Mizo National Front (MNF)-HPC combine bagged 10 seats, and the other two were won by independent candidates.

However, in the last five years, there has been a frequent change in the power dynamics in the council and the ZPM-HPC alliance is currently in power.

The SHC was established on July 9, 2018, as a result of the peace accord signed between the Mizoram government and the erstwhile underground Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) or HPC(D) on April 2 that year.