Mizoram: LADC polls record over 80% voter turnout; counting on December 9

Aizawl: Around 80.21% of more than 56,000 registered voters turned out to vote in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) elections in Mizoram on Wednesday, according to a senior election official.

The polling was conducted peacefully from 7 am to 4 pm, and no law-and-order issues were reported at any of the 111 polling stations.

A total of 45,617 voters cast their ballots.

However, the State Election Commissioner, H. Lalthlangliana, confirmed that a polling official had died during the election.

The official, Israel M. S. Dawngliana (43) from Council Veng in Lawngtlai, was posted at the Lungtian-II polling station and was found dead in his room on Wednesday morning. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed, though it is suspected to be a heart attack.

A total of 80 candidates contested the council elections.

The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) put up candidates in all 25 seats, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) contested 20 seats, the Congress 14, and the BJP 10.

Eleven independents were also in the fray.

The counting of votes is scheduled for December 9.

In the previous LADC elections held on December 4, 2020, the MNF secured 20 out of 25 seats, while the BJP won one seat, the Congress one, and three Independents were elected. The current council's term ends on December 18.

The LADC, set up in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule, consists of 25 elected members and four nominated members.